THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 2, 1995 TAG: 9505310177
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Teens At Large
SOURCE: BY JEN ANDERSON, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
When the Princess Anne High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps held its annual change of command ceremony last week, it not only marked the end of a busy and successful year, but it also marked the retirement of a Naval Science instructor, retired Navy Capt. John Wayne Hatchett.
After six years, Hatchett is leaving the program to travel and to care for his elderly parents.
Under his leadership, the student group has received a number of honors and awards.
This year, the Princess Anne NJROTC Unit distinguished itself by placing in numerous competitions and by actively providing community service. Special academic, athletic and drill teams placed in local, state and national meets.
The entire unit placed third overall in the annual Area Five Drill/ Field Meet, which includes West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Washington, D.C. The unit also sponsored a Red Cross blood drive that collected 282 units of blood, more than three times the expected amount. The company's color guard performed more than 100 times for various school and community activities.
As a result, the unit earned the U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Education and Training Unit Award, a prestigious award given by the Navy to the top 10 percent of the NJROTC units in the nation.
According to Hatchett, one of the most unusual aspects of NJROTC is that the company is run almost completely by students. Seniors, who form the executive staff, along with other cadets, plan and organize all activities. Each year, the unit plans its own weeklong ``boot camp'' at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Florida. The camp is completely run by senior cadets. This year, 53 cadets participated in the program.
Each summer, the company also sends cadets to the NJROTC Leadership Academy. Last summer, eight of the nine cadets sent by Princess Anne graduated at the top of their academy class.
``Our organization provides an opportunity for high school students to exercise leadership and to realize that with authority comes responsibility and that, in the end, you are accountable for your own actions,'' Hatchett said.
At the change of command ceremony, Cadet Lt. Cmdr. Ross Vierra, a junior, replaced graduating senior Cadet Lt. Cmdr. Cliff Ford as company commander. In the fall, Cliff is planning to attend Virginia Military Institute and major in biology.
This summer, in preparation for his new responsibilities, Ross is planning to attend Boys State, a weeklong camp that teaches government, citizenship and leadership, and the NJROTC Leadership Academy.
``Ross has been in the program for three years. He was a participant from the beginning. . . . He's so dependable,'' said Hatchett.
Although he expects the company to have a great year next year, he will not be an active part of it. He is officially retiring June 30. He said the main reason is to care for elderly parents. He hopes to return to substitute teaching at some point, but he does not foresee returning to full-time teaching in the near future.
Although he will miss teaching, retirement will give Hatchett more free time to pursue his own interests. He and his teaching partner, Capt. Thomas N. McNicholas, who is also retired from the Navy, spent much of their time at school, at practices, on field trips or at competitions.
With a less hectic schedule, Hatchett will be able to spend more time volunteering at his church, golfing and watching his collection of more than 100 John Wayne movies. He and his wife of 37 years, Cynthia, love to travel and already have trips planned to visit their three grown children, one of whom is living in Saudi Arabia.
According to McNicholas, Hatchett is ``a remarkable teacher, leader and friend.''
Ross said, ``We're going to really miss our outgoing officers, especially Capt. Hatchett, and everything they taught us throughout the years but, with the help of each and every cadet working together, we will be able to achieve all of our goals for the coming year.'' ILLUSTRATION: ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jen Anderson is a junior at Princess Anne High School
Photo by JEN ANDERSON
Graduating senior Cadet Lt. Cmdr. Cliff Ford bids farewell to Capt.
John Wayne Hatchett, who is retiring as Naval Science Instructor at
Princess Anne High. Cadet Lt. Cmdr. Ross Vierra, left, replaces Ford
as company commander.
by CNB