(above) The new regimental staff, led by Commanding Officer Cadet Capt. Mario Rodriguez at front, will lead the Linden High School NJROTC through the 2019-20 school year.
Linden High School NJROTC Welcomes New Class of Cadet Leaders
The Linden High School NJROTC held a dignified change of command ceremony on May 13, 2019, revealing the commanding officer for the 2019-20 school year, as well as the regimental staff, which will lead the unit through the next school year.
Commanding Officer Cadet Capt. Gilbert Nolasco, a graduating senior, was relieved by junior Mario Rodriguez.
The auditorium was packed with cadets, families, staff, and honored guests including Assistant Superintendent Denise Cleary and other administrators, members of the Board of Education, Mayor Derek Armstead, Linden Chief of Police David Hart, and leaders of local military groups.
Commander Boyd Decker, senior Naval Science instructor at Linden High School, spoke about the unit and what the ceremony represents to the cadets.
“Every single day I get to work with these cadets is a great day for me,” he said. “We have over 450 young men and women now in the program, which is really thriving.
“You can see the passion that these kids bring to us when they apply for these jobs. They interview before a panel of instructors and they talk passionately about the program and how they want to be in these positions of leadership. Not for themselves, but they know what the program has done for them and they want to pass it on to the next generation of cadets. It’s really something that’s great to see.”
Principal Yelena Horré said the NJROTC is one of the school’s most successful programs, making up about a quarter of the school population.
“I think that our mayor and our police chief will agree that everywhere these students go, they represent Linden well,” she said. “They are constantly doing outreach. They understand that their role is not just to be students but to be members of the community, and they express that every day. It makes me very confident in the future of our country when I see they students that are sitting here today.
“And parents you should be so proud. These are your children. Great job!”
The regimental staff, known as the “Top 12,” which will lead the unit in 2019-20, is as follows:
Commanding Officer: Capt. Mario Rodriguez; Executive Officer: Commander Licxi Cardoso; Command Master Chief: Petty Officer Daniel Castillo; Operations Officer: Commander Ganesh Ramcharran; HQ Battalion Commanding Officer: Commander Jaydon McKoy; HQ Battalion Executive Officer: Lt. Commander Hajari Tucker; 2nd Battalion Commanding Officer: Commander Mathew Rocha; 2nd Battalion Executive Officer: Lt. Commander Lissette Santos; 3rd Battalion Commanding Officer: Commander Christina Gonzalez; 3rd Battalion Executive Officer: Lt. Commander Ruben Rua; 4th Battalion Commanding Officer: Commander Zachary Donovan; 4th Battalion Executive Officer: Lt. Commander Nicole Molano.
The Change of Command followed the unit’s annual awards ceremony. The top honors of the night went to cadets Gladylise Mendez and Maurice Faulk, who were named female and male Cadets of the Year, respectively.
Faulk was also honored along with cadets Erik Hernandez, Onelvi Martinez and Andrew Lopez for their enlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps. The four will depart for basic training shortly after graduation.
The Linden High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, founded in 1986, is a voluntary citizen development program focusing on character education, leadership and service. Most cadets do not go on to serve in the military, but are better prepared to take on the challenges of higher education or the workforce because of the discipline and sense of commitment they learn in the program.
Submitted by Gary Miller
