Carson High Naval ROTC hopes to win award again

A Naval Junior ROTC ceremony Wednesday at Carson High School lays the Distinguished Unit Award literally at the feet of the 128 members of the school's company.

Their shoes are just one thing on which area-inspection Cmdr. Paul Fisher will judge them.

"He checks your uniform items, makes sure your shoes are shined, and your ribbons are on correctly," said Carson High junior and Cadet Lt. Cmdr. Michael Moltz. "He'll also ask you questions on the chain of command, like who is the president of the United States. If we miss those, we don't pass."

The Carson High NJROTC has beat out 60 other schools for the Distinguished Unit Award for the past four years. The award is given to the NJROTC unit with the highest score.

At 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, the public is invited to the NJROTC color guard and pass-and-review parade at Carson High's varsity football field.

More than 100 people attend the annual ceremony. Many of them are former NJROTC students at the school and get to see the event for the first time from the sidelines.

"It's a lot different when you're watching it, than being in it," said Cmdr. Skip Cannady, senior naval science instructor at Carson High. "Of course, the parents come, too."

About 70 percent of the NJROTC class are freshman. Involvement in NJROTC, a program at the school since 1974, decreases throughout each upper grade.

Moltz has been involved for three years, and is now the highest-ranking student in the unit. He oversees the company's four platoons.

"I find it to be a good leadership program. That's why I continued to be involved in it," he said.

The four platoon leaders will make sure members are squared away before Wednesday's inspection, he said. Moltz will introduce the school's company to the inspector.

Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at mo'neill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.