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Unit History The MHHS NJROTC was officially established on September 1st, 1993. The first instructors were LCDR Murray Estabrook and Senior Chief Ray Gonzales. In 1997 CDR. Philip Tetlow assumed duties as Senior Naval Science Instructor, replacing LCDR Estabrook. In 1998, CDR Tetlow and Senior Chief Gonzales departed and LCDR Byron Toole took the helm as SNSI. LCDR Toole was joined in 1999 by NSI Master Chief Robert Howe. In 2001 Operations Specialist First Class David Mayfield replaced Master Chief Howe as Naval Science Instructor. The Mountain Home NJROTC maintains a cadet enrollment of over 100 students from grades 9-12. The 2003-2004 enrollment is the largest ever, at 120. Cadets attend NJROTC as a regular class, receiving instruction in military customs and traditions, drill, physical fitness, naval history, oceanography, meterology, navigation, land and water survival, and military justice. Once each week cadets attend school in full military uniform and undergo a thorough uniform inspection. Before and after school, cadets hone their military skills as members of the unarmed drill team, armed drill team, color guard, rifle team, physical fitness team, academic team, and orienteering team. Throughout the school year, the Mountain Home NJROTC teams compete with other NJROTC cadets from throughout the nation, either in person or by mail. The color guard performs at over 50 public events each year.
Mountain Home NJROTC has accomplished a variety of outstanding achievements:
1994 -1995 Selected as Commander Naval Education and Training “Distinguished Unit” 1998-1999 Selected by Commander Naval Education and Training as the Most Improved Unit in the Nation. Placed 4th at the NJROTC Area 8 Drill Meet at the University of Mississippi. Placed 2nd at the Sea Lion Drill meet in Monroe, LA 1999-2000 Selected as Commander Naval Education and Training “Distinguished Unit.” Placed 2nd at the Millington, TN Drill Meet Placed 4th at the Alma Airedale Invitational Drill Meet Placed 5th at the NJROTC Area 8 Drill Meet at the University of Mississpi. 2000-2001 Selected as Commander Naval Education and Training “Distinguished Unit.” Placed 2nd at the Millington, TN Drill Meet Placed 3rd at the Alma Airedale Invitational Drill Meet Placed 3rd at the NJROTC Area 8 Drill Meet at the University of Oklahoma 2001-2002 Selected as Commander Naval Education and Training “Distinguished Unit.” Placed 4th at the Alma Airedale Invitational Drill Meet 2002-2003 Selected as Commander Naval Education and Training “Distinguished Unit”. Placed 4th at the NJROTC Area 8 Drill Meet at Rice University in Houston. Placed 3rd at the Alma Airedale Invitational Recent Achievements Placed 1st at the Alma Airedale Invitational Placed 1st at the Alabama Orienteering Championship
In addition to achievements in competition, MHHS NJROTC provides opportunities for cadets to learn about the military through orientation trips. Over the years, Mountain Home cadets have visited naval installations and ships in San Diego, CA, Norfolk, VA, Kings Bay, GA, Jacksonville, FL, Pensacola, FL, Pascagoula, MS, and New Orleans, LA. Cadets have flown in Air Force and Navy aircraft, and have participated in Mini Boot Camps and Leadership Academies. They have rapelled from towers, participated in aircraft firefighting training and shipboard damage control training, and have attended many airshows featuring the military’s premier flight demonstration teams.
In March of 2004 the Mountain Home NJROTC teams will compete at the Area 8 Drill meet to be held at Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA. Following the competition, cadets will visit the National D-Day museum in New Orleans and tour the naval facilities at Pensacola, FL.
Community Service is another important activity at MHHS NJROTC. Each year the group performs over 1000 hours of community service. So far in 2004 cadets have performed over 400 hours of community service, including a clean up of the MHHS campus and visits to veterans in nursing home facilities.
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