High School ROTC Cadets' Spring Break Aboard Tarawa

[CFHSNJROTC]

High School Cadets' Spring Break Aboard Tarawa
Story Number: NNS060415-16
Release Date: 4/15/2006 4:07:00 PM

By Journalist Seaman Apprentice Carlos Cepeda, USS Tarawa Public Affairs
ABOARD USS TARAWA (NNS) -- High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Cadets spent their spring break this year aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1), for a week-long training cruise to familiarize them with the day-to-day operations aboard a US Navy vessel.

Tarawa lended its support April 3 by taking aboard 80 Navy and Marine Corps JROTC cadets from California’s Rialto and Eisenhower High Schools. The cadets were assigned running mates from the ship’s crew to take them along during their watches and day-to-day duties. Instructors (ship’s crew), taught the cadets with practical exercises rather than just classroom training.

“We do something special that the other 600 plus units around the world don’t do,” said Cmdr. Sandy Jones, JROTC senior instructor. “It’s called our spring break afloat program. We’ve been very fortunate to have some good sponsorship from the fleet.”

While underway with Tarawa, 40 of the cadets earned the JROTC equivalent of the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification, and Marine cadets were given their first taste of Marine life aboard a vessel.

“I’ve never been on a ship before,” said Cadet Sgt. Liliann Torres, Marine cadet commanding officer. “Being on the ship is exciting to me. I can’t wait for the ship to get underway and start this week.”

The high school sea cadets did have a busy week.

“They adjusted to Navy life by sleeping in Marine berthing spaces, experiencing their fist Navy showers, standing watch in CIC (combat information center), the bridge, and in the air control tower,” said Lt. Jennifer Mitchell, Tarawa Morale Welfare & Recreation officer. “They received Navy Cash cards, served meals on the mess decks and 40 of them sat through Mock Boards to earn their Sea Cadet, Surface Warfare Pin,” she added.

Cadet Lance Cpl. Kayla Griffin awaiting entry in the Navy as a damage controlman under the Delayed Entry Program, looked on while the crew engaged in a by-the-numbers mass conflagration drill in the hangar bay. Watching the speed and efficiency of the Tarawa crew members as they went through the drill helped the cadets realize just how prepared they have to be to work in their respective fields.

“I think it helped me get ready by how prepared and fast they have to react to everything. When I become a doctor, I’ll have to work just as fast,” said Cadet Lance Cpl. Tasheika Starks.

At the end of their weeklong adventure, the cadets did not leave empty handed.

“They walked away with a better understanding of what it means to be a sailor in the U.S. Navy,” said Mitchell. “They each received an honorary crew member certificate from Capt. Peter Murphy, commanding officer, and some earned their Sea Cadet Pins. All left with a weeks-worth of Navy Spring Break memories on board Big T.”

For more news from around the fleet, visit www.navy.mil.
http://www.news.navy.mil/search/disp...story_id=23147

[Infantrymen]

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