Photo By Gregory Mitchell | Cadet Lt. j.g. Ray Palania (left) and Cadet Lt Cmdr. Timothy Kohatsu march through...... read more read more
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YOKOSUKA, Japan - Fleet Activities, Yokosuka Nile C. Kinnick High School conducted a Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps change of command ceremony, May 2.
Lt. j.g. Ray Palania relieved Lt. Cmdr. Timothy Kohatsu to become the new cadet officer in command.
In front of family, classmates and friends, Kohatsu reflected upon his time as the commanding officer during his senior year and considered it a stepping stone for his life, one that he would never forget.
“Being commanding officer of the Kinnick High School NJROTC Red Devil Company is my greatest achievement during my high school career,” said Kohatsu. “It has always been my goal to reach this level and when I did last year, I was extremely overjoyed. Although there were many surprising changes to this school year, such as a new principal, and new class schedules, change is not always a bad thing. With the instructors, my XO [executive officer], CMC [command master chief], cadet staff and you the cadets, we were able to face these changes with a positive mentality and took in these changes with open arms.”
Kohatsu thanked his family for their support and upon completion of the ceremony, he continued to emphasize that NJROTC had aided in guiding him into the corrective course he should take for his future.
“I have been accepted to Washington State University, where I will enlist in the NJROTC program to continue my training,” said Kohatsu. “Once I get there, my goal is to become an engineer and also to become a commissioned officer. Once I go to the fleet, I would like to become a submariner for life.”
The NJROTC program was established by Public Law in 1964 and is conducted at accredited secondary schools throughout the U.S.
Instructors who teach students are predominately retired Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard officers and enlisted personnel.
Accredited curriculum emphasizes citizenship and leadership development, as well as the U.S. Naval maritime heritage, significance of sea power, and naval topics such as the fundamentals of naval operations, seamanship, navigation and meteorology.
Students who wish to partake in NJROTC will find the atmosphere in classrooms to be busy and challenging. Junior reserve officers receive classroom instruction through a variation of extracurricular activities that consist of community service, academic, athletic, drill and orienteering competitions, field meets, flights, visits to naval or other activities, marksmanship sports training, and physical fitness training. Electronic classroom equipment, textbooks, uniforms and educational training aids are also regularly used.
According to Kohatsu, all students should take advantage of the program.
“I cannot say enough about NJROTC,” said Kohatsu. “There’s more to the program than just wearing a uniform once a week. It provides a long laundry list of benefits that can last you well into your later years of life.”
Kohatsu said that he felt strongly that the Nile C. Kinnick NJROTC program was being left in good hands with new commanding officer Palania, whom he had high praise for.
Palania has set his sights on developing the NJROTC program even further into the future.
“My goal for the company is to focus on doing more for the community,” said Palania. “Over the past few years, our area manager [central chain of command], who resides over all NJROTC affairs, has recognized us over the past few years as a leader in community services. I really want to retain our status as a company and increase our availability during public engagements so people know that we are actively engaged in the development of the base.”
| Date Taken: | 05.02.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2013 05:06 |
| Story ID: | 107222 |
| Location: | YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 374 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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