Liz Dumblis (MHS), Will Tondo (SHS), Andrew Cushman (MHS), Jasmine Clasing (SHS), Maria Soriano (GHS). SoutholdLOCAL photo courtesy of Jasmine Clasing.
Parents were brimming with pride on Friday at an inspection of the Southold Mattituck Greenport Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps held at Southold High School Friday.
According to Regimental Executive Officer Jasmine Clasing, Commander Sticht, the Executive Officer of Navy Recruiting District New York, was the Inspecting officer of the event. Each of the 315 cadets of the unit of 315 were inspected; the inspection was followed by a ceremonial parade march conducted by Cadet Regimental Commander Cadet Captain Andrew Cushman and the Regimental staff. Administrators from all three school districts were present, as well as New York State Senator Ken LaValle, members of the American Legion, local recruiters, and representatives from Congressman Tim Bishop’s office.
During the event, Cadets Ty Bugdin, Owen Klipstein, Evelyn Cummings and Rachael Hughes were awarded the Cadet Achievement ribbon — selected by the Area Four Manager based on “rigorous criteria of their hard work and dedication to the NJROTC program,” Clasing said.
In addition, Cadet Lieutenant Tom Messana was awarded the Sons of the American Revolution, New York State outstanding cadet of the year award, an honor bestowed upon one cadet in New York State based on leadership, dedication, and overall academic excellence, she said.
The NJROTC Unit has been named the number one unit in Area Four for the eighth consecutive year. In addition, the unit has also been ranked in the top eight in the nation for the past eight years — and was ranked number one in the Nation in 2011. This year, the NJROTC was ranked number three out of over 650 units nationwide.
The Southold Mattituck Greenport NJROTC shines under the leadership of the Senior Naval Science Instructor, Major William Grigonis (USMC Retired) and Naval Science Instructors Senior Chief Petty Officer Charles Turner and Petty Officer First Class Felicity Turner. Major Grigonis and Senior Chief Turner are both graduates of Southold High School who were both members of the NJROTC.
The NJROTC’s chain of command includes Regimental Commanding Officer Captain Andrew Cushman, Regimental Executive Officer Commander Jasmine Clasing, Southold Company Commander Lieutenant Commander Will Tondo, Mattituck Company Commander Lieutenant Commander Liz Dumblis and Greenport Company Commander: Lieutenant Commander Maria Soriano.
