Synepuxent Post 166 is proud to support the NJROTC program at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin, Maryland and we would like to give you a view of the accomplishments of this group. Their program mission is to instill in students in United States secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment.

The NJROTC program was established by Public Law in 1964 and may be found in Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 102. The program is conducted at accredited secondary schools throughout the nation, by instructors who are retired Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers and enlisted personnel. The NJROTC curriculum emphasizes citizenship and leadership development, as well as our maritime heritage, the significance of sea power, and naval topics such as the fundamentals of naval operations, seamanship, navigation and meteorology. Classroom instruction is augmented throughout the year by community service activities, drill competition, field meets, flights, visits to naval activities, marksmanship training, and other military training. Uniforms, textbooks, training aids, travel allowance, and a substantial portion of instructors' salaries are provided by the Navy.

WHAT DOES THE NJROTC PROGRAM DO?

• PROMOTES PATRIOTISM
• DEVELOPS INFORMED AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS
• DEVELOPS RESPECT FOR CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY
• DEVELOPS A HIGH DEGREE OF PERSONAL HONOR, SELF-RELIANCE, INDIVIDUAL DISCIPLINE AND LEADERSHIP
• PROMOTES AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE BASIC ELEMENTS AND NEED FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
• PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE MILITARY SERVICES AS A POSSIBLE CAREER
• PROMOTES COMMUNITY SERVICE
• DEVELOPS LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL
• PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE TO GANGS
• PROMOTES HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION
• PROVIDES INCENTIVE TO LIVE HEALTHY AND DRUG FREE

NJROTC Basic Facts

• 619 NJROTC Units as of 1 October 2005.
• Number of students in NJROTC, School Year 05-06 = 81,505; 44% female, 56% male.
• Approximately 40% of all NJROTC program graduates enter military service.
• Approximately 58% of all NJROTC graduates continue to post-secondary education (including ROTC programs and military academies).
• Minority participation is 64%; 34% African American, 22% Hispanic, 4% Asian American/Pacific Islander, 1% Native American/Alaskan Native, 3% Other.
• NJROTC instructors are retired Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officer and enlisted personnel. Instructors are school employees. Salaries are determined by the rank of the instructor and equal at least the difference between retirement and active duty base pay and allowances. Half of that amount is reimbursed to the school by the Navy.

NJROTC - A Winning Air Rifle Team

In March of 2007 Stephen Decatur Naval JROTC won the Maryland Junior Olympic State Air Rifle Championship. The State championship won Stephen Decatur the right to represent Maryland in the US Shooting Jr Olympic 3P Air Rifle National Championship that was held in Bowling Green, KY July 4-6 2007.
Team members Matt Bertino, Travis Bush, Elizabeth Rodden, Jake Terlizzi, and alternate John Valentine traveled to Bowling Green, KY representing Maryland. The championship was a two day competition that consisted of 60 shots fired each day, 20 shots in the prone position, 20 shots in standing and 20 shots in the kneeling position for a total of 120 shots over the 2 days. Decatur performed well on both days. On the first day of shooting, team Decatur broke a 3 year old school team scoring record, with a team score of 2103. On the 2nd day of competition, the team broke the previous day’s record, shooting a team score of 2106. The combined total of 4209 placed Stephen Decatur NJROTC in 5th place in the scholastic team division. The complete team results can be found on the following WWW site: http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/report_eventAward.cgi?matchID=2485&eventID=6&awardID=1