Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Orr | Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets with the Hawaii Leadership Academy...... read more read more
Subscribe
MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps high school students with the Hawaii leadership Academy gathered at the base theater to graduate as NJROTC leaders, Saturday.
The cadets arrived June 13 with the objective to build leadership skills and self-discipline, and to return to their units with the knowledge they learned during their time in the HLA.
The cadets congregated to Hawaii from 10 different schools and 13 states with the goal to develop as well-rounded future service members and become versatile citizens, according to retired Marine Master Sgt. Jose Colon.
“Every year we run what is called the Hawaii Leadership Academy, and it takes cadets from local schools and Area 13 schools (from states such as) Alaska, California, Guam and Japan,” Colon said. “We bring them together to continue to build their leadership skills and abilities.”
Colon said some of the cadets may choose to join a branch of service, and the training they receive from the HLA prepares them for their possible military careers in areas such as physical fitness, drill and the proper use of the chain of command. However, others may choose not to join the military, but can still benefit from the program.
“This prepares them to be informed,” Colon said. “Some of them will choose to go into the military as a result, but the end result is to get a student that will graduate as a (good) person, with a sense of person, and an informed citizen."
Since their arrival, the NJROTC cadets fired simulated rifles via indoor simulated marksmanship training center, visited waterfront operations, took a tour around the bay on a naval boat, viewed static displays of unmanned aerial vehicles hosted by Marine Aircraft Group 24 and took a trip to the Pearl Harbor historical sites, meanwhile practicing their drill and strengthening their leadership techniques via team building exercises.
The cadets rotate through leadership positions, such as platoon leader, squad leader and guide, after each meal. According to Camron Smith, an incoming 11th grader at Clark High School, this approach to training young adults is beneficial because it gives those who are not yet in a leadership position to incorporate leadership techniques they may not have thought of.
“The course is very interactive, and it is more cadet lead, and I think that is great for leadership,” the Las Vegas native said. “The fact that many schools from all over the world come to this program is great. You get to see different leadership (styles); different qualities and different approaches from the instructors who bring their own perspective.”
According to Henry P. Van Oss, the officer in charge for the Hawaii NJROTC Leadership Academy, and the senior naval science instructor at Kalaheo High School, the exposure the active duty marines and sailors on the base provide orientation to the cadets, and they can look up to the service members as role models.
“We augment that active duty training with some of our own classroom training and drill training which are a lot of team building type events,” Van Oss said.
The graduation recognized cadets that were most physically fit, had the highest test scores and the platoon with most points. Those recognized were awarded an additional certificate.
Although the cadets stayed aboard MCB Hawaii for seven days, in that short time, Smith says he has benefited as a leader and a high school student.
“Throughout the course, I have seen many different techniques taken into the leadership roles which is definitely positive, and I have gained from that,” Smith said. “(I’ve learned) one of the most key things that makes a good leader is to communicate with your team.”
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.26.2015 15:49 |
| Story ID: | 168320 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, US |
| Hometown: | LAS VEGAS, NV, US |
| Web Views: | 259 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NJROTC cadets graduate HLA, by Cpl Adam Korolev, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT