Leadership Academy, Alpha 1 platoon                                   2006 Leadership Academy Graduation formation
            entering the ceremonial area for graduation                     

                                                                                                                                   
     The St. Amant NJROTC cadets, like many JROTC cadets across the nation, attend leadership training during the summer break.
Captain Beaver and Master Sergeant Daily, the Naval Science Instructors at St. Amant High School, selected fifteen outstanding
cadets to attend Basic Leadership Training (BLT) and Leadership Academy (LA) at Naval Air Station, Meridian, Mississippi this summer.

     Seven of the fifteen (sophomores) attended BLT (June 11-17), and the other eight (juniors/seniors) participated in LA (June 18-24).
The academies are prestigious opportunities that teach the cadets leadership skills, military etiquette, attention to detail, military drill, and
the values of honor, integrity, and trust. 335 cadets from 53 high schools in a five state area across the southeast attended BLT/LA.

     Teamwork was a major value that was stressed throughout the entire week, for both sessions. The tasks that the cadets had to
accomplish were next to impossible without them bonding together and using teamwork. The unit’s Executive Officer, Cadet Alex Petit,
said, “The first few days we we’re all individuals…By the night before inspection all 16 cadets in my paltoon had worked together to
achieve a common goal - passing.”

     The cadets were challenged, during their stay, in the areas of: Academics – the cadets learned the qualities of being a leader and how
to make good decisions when leading; Physical Fitness – push-ups, sit-ups and the 1-mile run (1.5-mile for LA); Uniform inspection – the
cadets were required to have meticulous, clean uniforms with precise measurements; Room Inspection – cadets had to keep their rooms
neat and sanitary at all times.
    
     Cadet Chief Petty Officer Jermie Joseph replied when asked about his time at LA, “I had a good time, and learned plenty.”  All fifteen
St. Amant cadets graduated from their respective week of training, and are expected to utilize the skills they learned to become better leaders
for their school unit. St Amant is expecting to have impressive performance and participation from their BLT/LA graduates.

To know more about the St. Amant High School NJROTC visit their web site at www.stamantnjrotc.org