Front row from left, Lauren Partin, Holly Hayes, Mikyla Smith and Steffie Nielsen. Back row from left, James O’Brien, Austin Estrada, Victor Kim and Auzaya Massara. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen. The unit was awarded their 13th consecutive year as a Distinguished Unit and the last eight consecutive have been with academic honors. The unit received a grade of ‘outstanding’ in all categories. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen
NJROTC News:
What do you get when you mix time, talent, dedication and hard work? You get acknowledged as a Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) 2106 Distinguished Unit with Academic Honors.
The end of the year compilation is a points-based system, which includes a significant input from the area manager, including key areas of reporting, unit activities, clothing and equipment inventories, drill and rifle competition and enrollment.
The Los Alamos High School unit, under the tutelage of Lieutenant Commander Wes Shumaker and Chief Petty Officer Tim Graziani also celebrated a birthday last month, officially chartered April 20, 1983 by the Navy.
NJROTC units are a collaboration with an agreement between a school district and the Navy JROTC program with new units formally being established several years after petitioning the Navy.
One of the goals for the Lieutenant Commander was for the unit is to create a sustaining culture of success and responsibility and their past success demonstrates that something must be working well.
“In the past 14 years there have been many changes in personnel in the unit and the school,” Shumaker said. “There have been six different principals in that time and six different Naval Science Instructors, but if you look at successful teams and organizations they too have many changes but they are still successful because they maintain that culture.”
Shumaker has kept the bar high, rewarded and acknowledged those that put forth the effort and above all, has remained flexibility with changes that occurs and taught that to his kids.
“We continually look for those that have the desire and drive to lead in the future,” said Shumaker, “and provide them with the opportunities to develop themselves.”
The spring awards ceremony is also the time to pass the leadership baton to the underclassmen as the seniors complete their duties and ready themselves for the road ahead.
The change of command ceremony involved the outgoing and incoming cadets formally passing the mantel. Commanding Officer Victor Kim and Command Chief James O’Brien welcomed the 2016-2017 staff members including Commanding Officer Steffie Nielsen and Command Chief Thomas Kwei.
A variety of acknowledgments are made at the spring awards event including a superior list of military heroes, heroines and patriots. The organizations work hard to tip their hats to the future of our country include; American Legion, MOWW, DAR, SAR, Tawani Foundation (Pritzker), Navy League, Surface Navy Association, VFW, Military order of the Purple Heart, National Sojourners, MOAA, Scottish Rite, and the Daedalion.
“The Pritzker awards have been part of the program since before I arrived on the scene,” Shumaker said. “The cadets chosen this year are staff members who put in the time, participated in many activities and stepped up and took responsibility in a staff position.”
The youth are usually relished with praise from former Marine Bill Hudson, who was markedly absent from the ceremony after passing away earlier in the school year. The team of leaders continually does community service and spends considerable time contributing to the unit. Those highlighted for their efforts were; Lauren Partin, Holly Hayes, Mikyla Smith, Steffie Nielsen, James O’Brien, Austin Estrada, Victor Kim and Auzaya Massara.
While the Lieutenant Commander spends the spring events saluting seniors as they depart the unit, he also takes time to stop and thank his many volunteers that assist in driving the success of the unit.
This year, he graduates a handful of parents, but the parents of graduating senior, Mikyla Smith deserve grand recognition. Smith’s parents, Michelle and Miles leave the unit after spending many years and rotating through several volunteer billets.
“The Smith’s have worked tirelessly on fundraisers and community exposure for the unit,” Shumaker said. “You would have seen the booth set up at the concerts in the summer, Mr. Smith assisted with the drill team preparations and they were always present at the meets, events and fundraising activities the unit was involved with.”