NJROTC cadets invade Ritchey

Cadet Petty Officer First Class Matt Slaughter became interested in the NJROTC (Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) when he was in middle school.

“I had a friend that was really involved in it and he said, ‘you should totally try this, but it is kind of hard,’” Slaughter said. “I like challenges so I went for it and it has been a great asset ever since.”
Slaughter was one of 27 NJROTC cadets from Willard High School who attended the basic leadership training (BLT) event Thursday through Saturday on the grounds of the old Ritchey Mill – nicknamed Camp Ritchey during their stay.

Cadets learned basic-training values, such as marching and chain of command. They also learned the fundamentals of teamwork.

“What we have done is introduce them to a different style, a leadership style that forces them to react quickly,” said Master Sgt. Gary McClelland, naval sciences instructor at Willard. “It takes them outside of their box on what they are accustomed to. But then it also helps them grow and understand that everything isn’t always just their world. We have some great cadets out there. They are team-oriented, they are focused, they are concentrated on what their goals are and they are striving for their future to make it positive and successful.”

McClelland and senior naval science instructor Capt. Steve Burnett, who lives on the property of the old Ritchey Mill, brought the cadets to Ritchey for training. While on the grounds, some cadets were put into positions of leadership.

One of the leaders was Lt. Commander Kaitlin Baker.

“It is a little harder than you think it would be,” Baker said of being a leader in the group. “I am also a commander of a drill team at school, and there I can let loose on them, I can yell at them. But once I get here, I am not mad about anything specific. It is hard to try to act like I don’t care. It is a little difficult.”

For Slaughter, he said the experience was like the real military.

“They are just trying to get us ready for the real military,” Slaughter said. “Because age has no limit to what leadership can do. There might be maybe an 18-year-old that is higher (in rank) than you and you might be 40. You just have to live with it and get through it and respect them.”

Cadet Lt. Commander Tyler Webb said this camp experience is to teach the navy core values of honor, courage and commitment.

This is the second camp that he has attended, the first being at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.

“I like this one better,” he said. “It is a lot more fun. We have this all to ourselves. We don’t have to share it with anybody. We can do what we want.”

The cadets also had the opportunity on Friday to see some impressive weaponry as a Blackhawk helicopter landed at Camp Ritchey.

Members of the Marine Corps Reserve in Springfield brought down armored  Hummers and other static weapon displays for the cadets. Then, the Army Air National Guard, out of Springfield, flew in the Blackhawk helicopter as another static display.

“They (Blackhawks) fly over the town (Willard), but this is the first time that I have seen one up close,” said Sarah Bannon, a cadet. “I did not realize how large they are.”

The cadets bunked in green and tan tents at the camp. This was the first time that the site was used for this type of camp.

Burnett was pleased with his cadets and their training.

“They are doing a great job. They are pretty frustrated. They are pretty hot and tired right now, but they are learning fast and they are performing as a team, and that is what you really want,” he said.

“A lot of what drill camp is all about is trying to break down the individual and bring everybody back as a team. Because everybody has to function as a team to be successful in life, and quite frankly, that is really important in the military.”