When Northeast Lauderdale High School student Dustin Hover started high school, his dream was to become a pilot one day.

Now, he’s on his way to fulfilling that dream, after joining the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) at the school. 

The program, which emphasizes citizenship and leadership development, is offered at high schools around the country.

 Hover, an Ensign Commanding Officer in Northeast’s NJROTC unit, is just one of nearly 100 students enrolled in the program, which was recently named a  “Distinguished Unit” for the 2016-2017 school year.

The recognition marks the first time since the unit’s inception 46 years ago that it’s received the Distinguished Unit designation. It illustrates lots of hard work and planning for Northeast’s instructors, LCDR Steve Hardin and Senior Chief Kent Malone, who are assigned to administer and operate the NJROTC program.

Hardin thinks it’s the cadets, their teachers, the school administration, and their parents who should get most of the credit.

“We get a lot of support from parents and the school administration, but this award is a culmination of hard work and dedication from each and every cadet in the unit,” Hardin said.

Malone agreed.

“I am so proud of what the cadet students do, and how they influence the other kids in the school,” Malone said. “These young men and women are dedicated to their future. They are learning teamwork and it meant a lot to the cadets and myself – I knew they could do it.”

Hover, who recently received a full scholarship to attend the USAF Academy Class of 2022 Summer Seminar, said JROTC has helped him prepare for his future. 

“I have a passion for flying and being a pilot is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Hover said. “Being in ROTC has taught me self-discipline, how to really pay close attention to details, and try to do your best at everything you can. ROTC has helped to get me where I am now to try to go to an academy and prepare for a career. It has opened the door to many opportunities for me.”

Lauren Tullis, Ensign Executive Officer, said the program has taught her how to lead and focus on her priorities.

“Senior Chief tells us all the time about our six p’s – proper prior planning prevents poor performance,” Tullis said. “ROTC has taught me how to understand my deadlines, how to accomplish what I need to accomplish, and to move forward because life is not going to slow down for you.”

Since eighth grade, Tullis has wanted to be a part of ROTC. In the future, she wants to be a nurse in the military.

“When I saw pictures of cadets with all the trinkets on their uniforms I knew that was something I wanted to do,” Tullis said. “I would hear all the time how ROTC accomplished this or they’ve done that and it made me want to be a part of that.”

ROTC helps young people handle adversity when it comes their way, Malone said.

“We all have trials and tribulations as we go through life and not many teenagers today get the opportunity to understand the situation they are in and try to alleviate the problem themselves,” Malone said. “In ROTC they get that opportunity to do that and lead. Our motto here is “Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way.

“One of my favorite quotes is, “You can not discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

The Northeast NJROTC is part of Area 8, which includes schools from Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and the panhandle of Florida. Of the 49 schools in Area 8, only 14 schools were designated Distinguished Unit. Of the 49 schools in Area 8, Northeast NJROTC is ranked 11th and third in the State of Mississippi.