The days were hot. The week was long. The Naval Science One cadets were nervous about what they were going to embark on and what awaited them for this week of training. Tension filled the air as Cadet Commanding Officer Cadet LCDR Taylor Blair and Drill Team Commander McKenna Fowler instructed them … and sometimes barked orders … under the watchful eyes of First Class Petty Officer Grieco and Colonel Urquhart. The week of JROTC training was filled with instruction of military etiquette, military bearing, military drill and leadership, and followership and physical training, all taught by the upperclassmen of Ellet NJROTC. The cadets began training on Aug. 19, 2024, and “graduated” on Aug. 23, 2024. They were taught the way the military writes, signs their names and even writes the date. The cadets graduated in a small ceremony on Aug. 23, 2024, and were awarded an advancement in the rank structure of NJROTC. These cadets will have a bit of a “leg-up” on their peers who come in straight from school but will be tasked in student-led teaching when the school year starts. NJROTC creates leaders from the get-go!