Commander reports ROTC program off to good start

By dave benjamin
Staff Writer

Commander reports ROTC
program off to good start
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer


DAVE BENJAMIN  Members of the Freehold Regional High School District Junior ROTC color guard stand at attention during the salute to the flag at a Board of Education meeting. The new Junior ROTC program is based at Colts Neck High School.DAVE BENJAMIN Members of the Freehold Regional High School District Junior ROTC color guard stand at attention during the salute to the flag at a Board of Education meeting. The new Junior ROTC program is based at Colts Neck High School.

The Freehold Regional High School District’s new Junior ROTC program is off to a successful start, according to its director.

"We have 71 cadets enrolled and about 45 to 50 kids who came out for an information night for eighth-graders," said Lt. Col. Jim Sfayer, Junior ROTC supervisor. "It’s absolutely outstanding."

The FRHSD’s Junior ROTC program is based at Colts Neck High School and is open to students from all eight sending communities in the district.

At a recent meeting of the FRHSD Board of Education, Sfayer brought administrators up to date on the program’s accomplishments.

"We’ve been on the USS Intrepid museum for a character-leadership development seminar, and the kids are moving very rapidly toward the level of excellence that we expect," Sfayer said.

Freshman Aaron Lay began the presentation to the board by playing "You’re a Grand Old Flag" on the bagpipes.

Thanking the board, company Com-mander Joanna Skidmore, a senior, said, "We want to thank you for your support which has enabled us to have this program. Over 70 cadets are involved in this program, and next year we expect many more to be coming in."

Skidmore said the cadets in the program have been given the opportunity to develop their leadership skills.

"Lt. Col. Sfayer has highly supported us, and his leadership has helped to keep us on course," Skidmore said. "As you know, we live in an unsettled period of time, and so we deeply appreciate your understanding as to the development of the future leaders of our community, our state and our nation."

Individual awards were presented to each school board member and members of the administrative staff.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart," Sfayer said. "This has been an extraordinary experience. The kids are off to a flying start thanks to your help and supportive staff. It has been an absolutely smooth opening with no speed bumps in the way and nothing but smooth sailing from the start. The support of the school and the support of the other students in the school have been extraordinary."

As a result, Sfayer said the members of the Junior ROTC have been able to participate in a number of community service activities. He also noted that the Greatest Generation Program, which will involve veterans coming to school to talk with students, will start in early 2003.

"It’s been wonderful having Lt. Col. Sfayer and the cadets here this evening," said Superintendent of Schools James Wasser. "I appreciate your enthusiasm. Without you and the students that are part of this wonderful program, (the program) would not have come to fruition."

Wasser noted that board member Diana Cappiello of Englishtown spent a great deal of time touring and observing Junior ROTC programs in other districts prior to the start-up of the FRHSD program.

"We are just thrilled and honored, and we look forward to the program growing," Wasser said. "We also thank the parents for their support. It really takes a commitment on the parents’ behalf to make sure the students are dedicated to this program and perform the services that they do. This is another wonderful opportunity for our students. They always rise to a higher level, and I thank them and their parents."