THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, November 15, 1995           TAG: 9511160733
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON    PAGE: 15   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   58 lines

P. ANNE NJROTC STUDENTS LEAVE FOR TRAINING IN GEORGIA EACH CADET'S TEACHERS HAD TO APPROVE THE REQUESTS TO BE AWAY FOR THE WEEKLONG TRIP OF STUDY AND DRILLS.

Ross Vierra, 17, left for boot camp for the sixth time Nov. 10. The Princess Anne High School senior wants a military career and he has been getting a leg up for years.

Vierra is a member of the Princess Anne High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. In fact, he is the highest ranking student in the program, a lieutenant commander and the company commander of the 167 students in the unit.

``I've applied to Virginia Tech,'' said Vierra. ``I hope to earn a degree in computer science and enter the Navy, make it my career.''

Vierra, 66 other cadets and seven chaperones left the school parking lot Friday for a military flight to Fort Gordon, Ga., where they are spending the week.

It won't be a day at the beach, he said. ``We'll start the day at 5 a.m., take a run at 5:30, come back for chow and spend three hours each morning and afternoon in drills,'' Vierra said. Students will have an hour before and after drills to study. They must maintain their academic work while they're away. Part of the qualifications for the trip included each teacher's approval of the student's work.

Mike ``Gunny'' Myers knows about the military life. He spent 32 years fighting in three wars around the world for the Marines. His daughter, Angela, 17, is a senior, a lieutenant with three years of NJROTC and boot camps behind her.

``I want to get my degree and become an officer,'' said Angela Myers. ``My ultimate goal is to be an FBI agent.''

As a first-timer to boot camp, Anthony Jones, 14, could have been a bit anxious. But his father, Michael Hartley, who serves on the attack submarine Albany, tried to help.

``It should build character,'' said Hartley as he watched his son board for the ride. ``I told him a little about what to expect.''

Vierra, looking at the the troops getting ready to leave, said, ``Everybody will come back from camp with a new sense of confidence.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY EDWARDS

Ross Vierra, 17, company commander for the Princess Anne High School

Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, gets last minute

instructions from retired Chief Petty Officer Jeff Goodman, the

group's training officer.

Mike "Gunny" Myers, a 32-year Marine veteran, sees off his daughter

Angela, 17, the company executive at Princess Anne. "I want to get

my degree and become an officer," Angela Myers said. "My ultimate

goal is to be an FBI agent."

by CNB