NJROTC Cadets Visit HSL-49 at North Island

[CFHSNJROTC]

NJROTC Cadets Visit HSL-49 at North Island
Story Number: NNS060427-03
Release Date: 4/27/2006 10:07:00 AM

By Journalist 1st Class Brian Brannon, Fleet Public Affairs Center Pacific
CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- Cadets from the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) program at Point Loma High School here got an up close and personal look at the operations of a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron April 22, courtesy of the Scorpions of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 49.

Cmdr. David Lemek, HSL-49 commanding officer, took the group of seven cadets on a tour of the squadron spaces at Naval Air Station North Island that included a high-level briefing in the pilot’s ready room.

“I give the same brief whether they’re congressmen or assistant secretaries of the Navy or JROTC,” Lemek said.

During a video presentation accompanying the brief, the cadets learned about the different aspects of the squadron’s mission, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, vertical replenishment, medical evacuations, naval surface fire support and communication relays.

Lemek said that staying current on the skills required to accomplish these missions involves a huge commitment on the part of the officers and enlisted Sailors in the squadron.

“For every hour of flight time, it’s probably 100 hours of studying in the books,” he said.

Cadet Lt. j.g. Allison Wheeler wrote a letter of thanks to the squadron for the tour. She said her group was impressed by the video that showed the squadron’s capabilities.

“It demonstrated the dedication and expertise it takes to run a modern helicopter squadron, yet it also illustrated the thrill of flying modern aircraft,” she said.

Retired Cmdr. Roger McClung, commanding officer of the NJROTC Point Loma unit, said the highlight of the day for most of the cadets was getting to examine an SH-60B Seahawk.

“It is not every day that they get to see one up close, let alone climb inside the cockpit,” he said.

McClung said the idea for a tour of HSL-49 came up when Lemek was conducting a command inspection of the NJROTC unit at Point Loma High School.

“He was so impressed that he invited several cadets over to tour his command,” McClung said.

The 106 cadets enrolled in the NJROTC program at Point Loma participate in physical training, close order drill, uniform and personnel inspections, and also study naval science and naval history. In addition, the unit includes armed and unarmed drill teams, marksmanship teams, athletic teams and color guards.

“It’s a citizenship and leadership program, it’s definitely not a recruiting program,” McClung said. “We try to instill self-discipline, which we define for teenagers as doing the right thing when nobody’s looking.”