Middle Township High School to Welcome First Navy National Defense Corps Cadets in September

ED. NOTE: An earlier release contained an incorrect starting month for the program.
COURT HOUSE – The first Middle Township High School students will be accepted into the Navy National Defense Cadets Corps (NNDCC) beginning in September, according to Middle Township Public Schools. 
According to a release, the Naval Service Training Command of the Department of the Navy approved the school to establish the unit, one of only 300 throughout the country.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer such an opportunity to the students of Middle Township High School,” stated Superintendent David J. Salvo, Ed.D. “The NNDCC program fits well with our district’s mission of providing students with a foundation that not only is challenging academically, but provides them with the skills to become successful, active citizens.”
The NNDCC program was established in 2011. It gives schools that are not eligible for a Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) program to provide an opportunity for students to gain the values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility, and sense of accomplishment, according to the Naval Service Training Command.
To be considered for an NNDCC unit, a school must be accredited by a United States nationally recognized accrediting agency, or be accredited by a state, state educational agency, or state university.
The school also must have at least 50 physically fit high school students over age 14 who are interested in participating.
Unlike the NJROTC, the host school provides the primary funding for the program, which includes student uniforms, instructor salaries, and daily operational expenses.
“It is such an honor to be able to establish a NNDCC unit at MTHS,” stated Toni Lehman, Ed.D., Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the district. “There is an extensive waiting list.” Lehman said the Naval Service Training Command provides the curriculum, which is the same one used for the NJROTC. She noted that in addition to such subjects as citizenship, leadership, naval operations/organization and naval history, cadets also receive an introduction to navigation, nautical astronomy, oceanography and electronics including shipboard radar, sonar, and guidance systems
Lehman noted the two-year minimum certification requires 7,500 hours of participation. Students who join as freshman can complete an additional two years. Although seniors will be able to join, they will not be able to complete the minimum two-year requirement.
Lehman said the Navy encourages any seniors who are interested in pursuing the military after graduation to join, so they can gain some military experience.
The school district will consider the potential to count some of the participation time for required physical education credit or elective course credit, she said.
“There are so many benefits available to our students through this program,” Salvo stated. “Students who successfully complete three years of NNDCC are entitled to ‘advanced promotion to pay grade E-3’ if they enlist in an active or reserve unit of the Navy or Air Force, and a pay grade E-2 when enlisting in the Army or Marine Corps. Successfully completing two years of the program enables students to enlist in the Navy at a pay grade E-2.” At present, an E2 earns $22,608 annually.
Salvo stated the district will provide specific information about the NNDCC throughout the summer and early fall, including application procedures. Interested students should speak with their guidance counselors about this opportunity.