c/PO1 Melanie Weekley receiving her insignia from PO1 Matthew Bohlen. Photo by Alana Hinojosa

c/SCPO Aspen Jaramillo congratulates c/LTJG Natalie Crawford. Photo by Alana Hinojosa

c/PO1 Maya Snowden receiving her rank insignia from c/MCPO Seth Javernick. Photo by Alana Hinojosa

BY C/LTJG ALANA HINOJOSA
Public Affairs Officer
LAHS NJROTC

In the U.S. Navy, advancement in rank depends on the number of vacancies for those ranks, meeting eligibility requirements, passing an advancement exam and a recommendation for advancement by the Commanding Officer or Officer in Charge.

NJROTC works in a very similar manner, cadets are tested on basic military knowledge by taking a written exam and a practical exam.

After passing the written exam with at least an 80 percent for all junior ranks and 90 percent for Chief Petty Officer, cadets are then challenged with a practical exam. Military skills ranging from simple drill to armed drill movements with swords and rifles, and commanding squadrons of cadets are demonstrated. For staff officers in NJROTC, they are required to either pass a knowledge test that is similar to those taken for enlisted advancement or write a report based on books from Topper Company’s leadership library. Cadets are given four opportunities for advancement throughout the year.

“It was very exciting to see all the hard work and dedication other cadets have put into studying for their advancements,” c/PO1 Maya Snowden said. “I’m thankful for all the resources and staff members around me to help me pass this process!”

Executive Officer c/LCDR Jaceena Hornberger said, “Every cadet who passes advancement shows an insane amount of dedication and devotion; these tests are not easy by any means! Passing them requires working on your own time, like lunch or after-school. It means everything to us, to see these cadets’ beaming pride when they receive their new ranks!”

Cadets honored for hard work and dedication:

• C/SA AIDEN ALLEY
• C/PO1 SONYA AYERS
• C/LCDR EMILY BACA
• C/PO2 NOAH BANKS
• C/LTJG JACKSON BLAIR
• C/SA DIEGO CARDON
• C/PO1 ASHTON CODY
• C/SA RODRIGO CORDOVA
• C/LTJG NATALIE CRAWFORD
• C/SN EVELYN DRAKE
• C/CPO DANIELLA ERAZO-ROJAS
• C/SN BRAEDEN HANSON
• C/PO1 KAELIN HANSON
• C/LTJG ALANA HINOJOSA
• C/SA ELEANOR JOGGERST
• C/SN LILIA KELLER-MOORE
• C/LTJG HAYDEN KIM
• C/SN JADEN KIM
• C/SN JADEN LLOYD
• C/SCPO AIDEN MANZANARES
• C/SCPO CALEB MOSS
• C/SN MARCUS OVIEDO
• C/SCPO OWEN OVIEDO
• C/PO1 WILLIAM PARRY-JONES
• C/PO1 ISABELLA PEARSON
• C/LTJG YURIDIA PEREZ
• C/SN LACEY PORTILLOS
• C/LTJG ANA SCHMITZ
• C/SA RYLEE SINGLETON
• C/PO1 MAYA SNOWDEN
• C/SA JENNA STOTHARD
• C/LCDR HAYDEN SUTTON
• C/SN MADELYN SUTTON
• C/SN CARTER TALLEY
• C/SN JAMES THOMAS
• C/PO1 MELANIE WEEKLEY
• C/LTJG SOFIA WEST
• C/SCPO JIMMY WILSON
• C/LTJG ARTHUR YAROTSKI