Linden High NJROTC Steps Up to Ace Inspection
Linden Public Schools
The Linden High School Navy Junior ROTC presented their finest form during the annual Area Manager Inspection ceremony. The annual Area Manager Inspection ensures that all units are working and complying with regulations. It is conducted by local active-duty personnel led by Area 2 Manager Commander Eric Humphreys.
Commander Boyd Decker, Senior Naval Science instructor at LHS and lead instructor for the NJROTC cadets, praised their strong work ethic, discipline, and teamwork. He discussed their long hours of training, including early mornings and weekends, and in addition to being students in good standing. He noted that the unit’s commanding officers were also the top students in their grade.
The ceremony was entirely run by the student cadets known as Top 4: Cadet Captain Camila Restrepo, Cadet Commander Layla Soto, Cadet Master Chief Petty Officer Alyssa Perez-Sanchez, and Cadet Commander Nicholas Gonczowski.
Cadet captain Restrepo later said, “The love and support this program provide for our cadets gives them the confidence and self-esteem to pursue and achieve things they thought were impossible.” She noted that she endures the program’s hardships because of love for the organization and for the close relationships forged through those hardships.
Cadet Officer Perez-Sanches said, “The AMI inspection means the world to me because [my fellow cadets] worked hard, they’ve been diligent, and I’ve never seen a group of kids grow together and have such a bond. It’s admirable and was an absolutely amazing moment.”
There were several cadet demonstrations, promotions, and honors. Demonstrations included the Color Guard, Unarmed New Cadet Drill Team, Unarmed Exhibition Team, Two-Man Armed Team, and the Armed Drill Team. Special Recognition was given to the cadets who will be joining the U.S. military upon graduation, including the Top 4 who all received highly competitive military scholarships. Cadet Captain Restrepo was presented with a special, giant check by the Navy Nurse Corp for her scholarship.
Special guests who attended included Superintendent Atiya Y. Perkins, Assistant Superintendent Annabel Louis, Mayor Derek Armstead, Board of Education member Dayanara Rosado Quezada, Principal Charles Koonce, 5th Ward Councilman Carlos Rivas, 2nd Ward Councilman Barry Javick, Police Chief David Hart, and Fire Chief William Hasko Jr.
As the ceremony concluded, Commander Eric Humphreys encouraged the parents give themselves a round of applause and stated that the cadet’s success would not be possible without support from their families.
