Tayten Reed, Oliver Luscombe and Instructor Kevin Follett. {David Volz}
The J.P. Taravella High School Navy JROTC program allows students to develop leadership skills, self-discipline, and confidence.
In March, the JROTC unit earned an overall outstanding rating during an area manager inspection at the school.
According to Kevin Follett, a retired naval officer and senior naval science instructor, the 101 cadets were evaluated on physical fitness, overall organization, and uniform wear.
The JROTC unit also won a drone competition on April 19 on the J.P. Taravella football field. A group of cadets piloted a drone through an obstacle course to demonstrate their skills. They won against JROTC units from Nova High School and Cooper City High School.
Follett believes that students can gain knowledge about operating and piloting drones effectively, including navigating them through obstacle courses. He aims to teach them how to use drones in practical, real-life scenarios and plans to conduct an exercise on how they can use drones in emergencies, such as locating a missing person or during a car accident.
Next year, the JROTC program will offer a dual enrolment program with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Cadets can take an Introduction to Aeronautical Science and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles course. The students will be able to earn six college credits.
Follett hopes to establish an aviation pilot’s ground school through Embry-Riddle in 2025. Cadets who complete this course will be able to take the Federal Aviation Administration private pilot written examination.
Students run the J.P. Taravella JROTC. They hold ranks similar to those in the regular Navy and have responsibilities. Cadet Tayten Reed, a junior, is the commanding officer.
“I love being a leader in the program and I am looking forward to being a leader next year. I may want to go the Naval Academy after high school,” he said.
Oliver Luscombe, a cadet, is in charge of the drones and is responsible for keeping them working. “We are going to be doing mock missions. I would love to do more work on the drones.”
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