Peninsula School District NJROTC Program Celebrates Success

The Peninsula School District NJROTC Tidehawks represented Washington State at the annual Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. Of the 131 Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs offered in Washington, the Navy Junior ROTC Tidehawks were chosen to perform at the nation’s capital May 26.

The Tidehawks consisted of 126 students from Peninsula and Gig Harbor High schools for the 2025 school year. Of those, 86 cadets and 24 chaperones went to Washington, D.C.

The journey began when the Tidehawks won the grand marshal award for their performance in Bremerton’s Armed Forces Parade in 2024, qualifying them for consideration in the national parade slot. The trip was funded by donations, fundraisers, and some community service groups. The Tidehawks “repay” donations from service groups with in-kind community service at their events.

The cadets spent three days visiting highlights in the capital city, including the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, the National 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon, and Mount Vernon. The group chartered buses for the ambitious sightseeing plans but still didn’t have enough time to see everything. This portion of the trip added educational credits for civics.

Tidehawks Command Master Chief Nathaniel Hulsey said he enjoyed his first trip to Washington, D.C., and that it was the first visit to the East Coast for most of the unit. “My personal favorite was the World War II Memorial — split between the Atlantic and Pacific theatres — so grand.”

Cadet Amelia Elman, a sophomore at Peninsula High School, carried the Oklahoma flag in the color guard. “It was amazing, we were towards the front of the parade.” Fifty-eight cadets carried flags in the color guard, with others carrying banners, and spinning rifles.

The NJROTC program at Peninsula High School was launched in 2021 with 87 cadets. The 2026 school year is expected to have 140 cadets. The number of females enrolled in the program is nearly equal to male participation.

Program instructor Command Master Chief Robert Stockton, who retired from the Navy and has a teaching certificate from Washington State, said he attributed the growth to the popularity of the program content. “We have study activities, field trips, guest speakers from various professions. They find that engaging.” Stockton also credited the success of the program to “school district and community support,” as many of the students have family members in the military and were drawn to the service.

Former cadet and PHS graduate William McKail, who enlisted in the Navy before graduating from PHS in 2022, told KP News his motivation for joining the military was because of the great example his father set for him as a child.

“I always looked up to (my dad) and saw NJROTC as a pathway to developing myself as a leader, but also to prepare myself for joining the military because that was always my goal,” he said. “I am amazed by the progress made by the program. They’ve far exceeded my expectations, and I believe that they will foster an incredible environment in the school and surrounding community. The NJROTC program instilled discipline and developed valuable leadership traits that have led me to be as successful as I am today.”

NJROTC groups must meet enrollment numbers and other criteria to qualify for funding from military sources. The Tidehawk program is funded by the Navy and receives no funds from PSD. The Navy supplies all the books for the Naval Sciences class. Other JROTC programs across the country are funded by and affiliated with other branches of the service.

“The real obstacle is availability,” Stockton said. “There is a limit on the number of funded programs authorized by Congress. Very few availabilities open up, perhaps five a year, with a long waiting list. Peninsula was selected for NJROTC status in its first year of eligibility (year three).”

All JROTC programs use a central curriculum developed for each branch of the service. The Navy includes lessons in leadership, health and wellness, first aid, geography, American history and government, communications, and emotional intelligence.

“It’s not just about joining the military, in spite of appearances; it’s about building leadership and citizenship,” Command Master Chief Hulsey said. “There are quite a few of us who can’t join the military or don’t want to. But so much of the class focuses on building up citizenship and an individual’s strategy of leading and being a leader. It far outweighs the military side that most people see from the outside.”

Stockton reiterated that the JROTC program is not about recruiting for the military. “We are presenting options; there are tons of programs, government, civil, scholarships. We help students and parents navigate the process of applications to programs. … I enjoy the outcomes, watching kids grow into mature and responsible adults. I want to keep allowing students to experience different programs, to continue developing as citizens, to leave our doors ready and prepared with meaningful lives after school.”

Five or six cadets out of the 23 graduating in 2025 expect to enlist in the military. Between 14 and 17 will enroll in colleges, possibly with ROTC programs.

In a June 4 award ceremony honoring all the NJROTC cadets for their achievements, six cadets received scholarships totaling $1,350,000. The funding originated in the Navy, Army, and Army National Guard, and comes with an obligation to the military for up to eight years.