For the first time since 2020, Carolina Forest NJROTC was able to travel to Norfolk, Virginia and visit a United States Naval Base. After a six-hour bus ride, the cadets were able to check into their hotel rooms for the night and prepare for their tours the next day. During the first tour, cadets were able to tour the VRC-40 Rawhides hangar, interact with service members, and climb inside some of the greyhounds that were being serviced inside the hangar. The VRC-40 Rawhides are a fleet logistics support squadron that fly the C2-A “Greyhound”. The Rawhides are one of the only squadrons that still manually control the planes throughout their flight. 

Capt. Boyle shared, “Going back to Norfolk was a combination of familiar and new things. The trip was a great opportunity to show NJROTC cadets the largest Naval base in the world as well as what the most powerful branch does on a daily basis.”

Following the tour of the VRC-40 hangar, cadets travelled to the USS Ross DDG 71, a Navy destroyer ship. After the guards lifted the gate, cadets began to march to the ship Capt. Boyle gave specific instructions on how cadets should get on the ship. They were instructed to form a single file line and one by one salute the American flag. Then the cadets would turn and salute the service member standing guard on the ship and request permission to come aboard. The cadets were given a tour of some of the offensive and defensive weapons onboard the ship, communication rooms, and navigation tools.

In between tours, cadets were given the chance to eat at the galley on base which featured hamburger pasta and grilled cheese for lunch and pizza with hot wings for dinner. Following dinner at the galley Capt. Boyle gave cadets the opportunity to shop at the Navy exchange with his sponsor. It was an exciting opportunity as the exchange is normally reserved for service members and their dependents.

On the final day of their trip, the cadets travelled to Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. While there, cadets were able to ride thrilling rides like the Intimidator and the Anaconda and eat at restaurants featured throughout the park. The day spent at the amusement park was a great opportunity for team building and bonding within the NJROTC unit. 

NJROTC cadet Mackenzie Praet commented, “It was a really fun experience, and I learned a lot. The chance to go to an amusement park while on a school trip was a cool opportunity.”

The CFHS NJROTC program is grateful for the opportunity to experience the learning and the chance to grow as a team that the Norfolk trip is able to offer and look forward to next year’s trip.