The change of command ceremony is an emotional process that ignites the feeling of honor and pride in the hearts of every man and woman in the United States military. Not only does this happen in each branch of the military, it happens here in the halls of our high school and many like it. At Highland High School we make it something special for not only the cadets but their families.
Everyone watched anxiously as Cadet Commanding Officer Regan Smith passed down her position to Cadet, Melissa Bonner so that she will lead the 2017-2018 Naval Science One’s, Two’s, and Three’s into the upcoming 2017-2018 school year. In the attached photo, Regan Smith pins the collar device on Melissa Bonner signifying the position of company commander. This particular collar device has been passed down from company commander to relieving company commander since the beginning of the NJROTC program at Highland.
But the duty does not end there. The rest of the Naval Science Four’s passed down the jobs and duties that they have successfully upheld for the past school year to next year’s Naval Science Four Students. With much emotion and faith of the retiring staff, the new Naval Science Four Cadets accept their new duties with much pride and privilege.
The cadets have been anticipating this day for months and accepted their duties with hearts full of hope, vision, determination and honor to be leaders in the Unit in the upcoming school year when their leaders have stepped down and graduated.
Awards were given out to many of the cadets in the NJROTC program. Families, students, and teachers, attended the event. The NJROTC program has a major impact on the school so it is no surprise that so many people wanted to watch this beautiful ceremony unfold. Everything went off without a hitch and NJROTC cadets were all excited as they welcomed their new staff members for the 2017-2018 school year.
