Gateway High School’s Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (MCJROTC) program has earned the Naval Honor School distinction for the 2021-22 school year.
It’s not an easy, here-you-go plaque on the wall to earn. And this is Gateway’s second-straight honor.
“They only take the top 20 percent, and this year it was out of 260 programs. That says something about our kids,” said Master Sgt. Jerry Wright, an instructor in the GHS program.
Gateway’s program was ranked No. 6 in the Southeast Region securing its spot amongst the nation’s best programs.
Selection for Naval Honor School is based on several criteria from the previous school year, including inspection results, the number of cadets in the program, the number of community service hours, the number of public affairs events attended by cadets, the number of academic awards presented to cadets, and the total dollar amount awarded for all scholarships and enlistments.
“We have a big battalion with motivated cadets who are willing to work outside of school to practice all of what we do,” said GHS Battalion Executive Officer Savannah Ferguson, the No. 2 ranking student in the MCJROTC program and a four-year member. “COVID-19 held us back a little bit last year, but we’ve got a strong battalion that our leadership is proud of.”
There were 249 cadets in the program last year, and 71 earned cadet-based academic awards for a total of $260,166 in scholarships and enlistments. Those cadets totaled 3,254 service hours, and five attended national-level summer leadership camps.
MCJROTC programs are evaluated by their performance in a variety of competitions, including drill team, academics, marksmanship, and physical fitness. MCJROTC programs who host or attend Senior Leadership and/or Cadet Leadership summer camps and field trips supporting the growth and development of cadets are given more consideration for the award.
In addition, Achieving Naval Honor School status also allows Senior Marine Instructors to nominate up to 12 cadets to each of the three service academies – U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Those nominations are considered equal to a nomination from a U.S. Representative or Senator.
GHS Battalion Commander Joswell Burgos-Santiago, another senior who’s also been in ROTC for four years, is one of those nominees, and plans to enter the Naval Academy.
“Being in ROTC has changed my whole life. I was iffy on the whole military idea when I was younger,” he said. “As a program, I’m surprised how much we’ve accomplished. I tell people all about the hard challenges we tackle behind the scenes. It’s taken a lot of dedication and motivation. The thing about us here at Gateway is that the energy we have is contagious.”
Aside from the military exposure, Wright said the program offers a structure some teens need.
“It provides a sense of belonging and being a part of something,” he said. “Our kids participate in food drives, holiday toy drives, and other ways to get involved in the community, make a difference and be part of a bigger goal than themselves.”
Senior Marine Instructor Chief Warrant Officer Vu Tran said at GHS the instructor staff teaches cadets the Core Values [Honor, Courage, Commitment], and then lets the students run with it.
“Receiving recognition is great, but the most rewarding part is knowing the kids take ownership and pride in their unit, school and community,” he said.
GHS Principal James Long called the MCJROTC program a “focus and point of pride at our school.”
“Now more than ever, we believe it is critical that we help our students become leaders both at school and in our community,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud of these young women and men and their instructors.”
