To begin the 2025-26 school year, Nease NJROTC held its annual Basic Cadet Training to welcome their newest cadets.
During this five-day program, they were introduced to core NJROTC principles that laid the foundation for a successful year. Over the course of the week, they welcomed more than 70 new cadets into the outstanding unit. They completed an academic test, a physical fitness test, and competed in a drill competition.
At the end of the week, many cadets, including members of the cadre, received awards. A major accomplishment came from Cadre Alexander Cummings, Emma Newman and Zoey Wagner, who earned the Cadet Achievement Ribbon, an award that can only be approved by the area manager.
Cadet Wagner shone a light on her neighborhood, noticing that their representation of our country needed to be rejuvenated. She decided a change needed to be made, which is what she did when she saw her neighborhood flag was faded and not properly representing the country.
“I noticed that the American flag in my neighborhood was worn down and had multiple rips and tears and hadn’t been replaced in years,” she said. “I asked the HOA if they could order a new flag so I could restore the American flag to its rightful form, and within a week the new flag was posted on the flag pole.”
She took initiative and retired the flag, deciding that it had served them well and the flag needed a new generation.
Speaking of hard work this year, Cadet Newman and Cadet Cummings ran the cadet program and exceeded the high standards of the program at Nease.
This year, with one of its highest cadet counts, the unit ran smoothly under their hard work and leadership. These cadets planned, prepared and executed to perfection. They demonstrated awe-inspiring work that will leave a mark on this unit for many years to come.
As a result of all their hard work, they had an excellent training with many promising cadets graduating this program. With a 100% pass rate on the academic test and three staff meritoriously promoted, there was a lot to be proud of this year at the Basic Cadet Training.
“I’ve volunteered at three Basic Cadet Trainings and went through one myself as a freshman,” said Newman. “These cadets are the best I have ever seen, and I have no doubt in my mind that much of their success was due to the hard working cadre who motivated them throughout the week to be the best version of themselves.”
As 83 trained staff were on site for this training, three rose above all else and were meritoriously promoted for their hard work and dedication during this challenging week.
Senior cadets Christian Roberts, Griffin Lanoue and Layton Shaw were meritoriously promoted on account of the way they committed to giving the cadets the best run year so far. They prepared the incoming cadets well for the challenges and the successes of the new school year to come.
Along with these achievements, First Platoon led by Cadet Labardee, won the drill competition, physical fitness award, and gained Honor Platoon while competing against seven other platoons. Every cadet that went through this program put in the work, and it showed at their awards ceremony when all the cadets were promoted and achieved the rank of E-2.
“I have seen cadets grow not just in their knowledge of drill and academics but in who they are as a person,” said Cummings. “Many of the cadets came in frightened but by the end of the week everyone was beginning to bond. I truly cannot thank the cadre enough for their hard work, and I want to applaud all the cadets on a great BCT.”
