Dolphin ROTC has had a busy month of prestigious guest speakers, practice, and field trips!

   The squadron is gearing up for their once-in-every four year inspection Monday Nov. 29.

   Grants and donations

  The student members of the Gulf Breeze ROTC program were supplied with all new rifles, ceremonial gloves, and a toolbox thanks to generous grants by the NRA and other organizations. Though donations of this sort are common for an organization as well-known and respected as ROTC, the much-needed equipment upgrades were met with enthusiasm by all members.  

  The rifles, will go to ROTC’s famed drill team which has received praise and countless awards for their discipline and skill. Just last year they were given new sabers in a remarkably similar fashion.

   The current grant was not a small amount either. Senior Cadet Logan Muldoon noted, “The grant were around 10 to 15 thousand dollars, and the rifles were worth about a grand each.”

   Joe Kinego talks with ROTC

  Every Thursday the students in ROTC are graced by guest speakers. These people are typically renowned for their rank, achievements, and/or knowledge. The guest that stopped by on October 28th was no exception. Colonel Joe Kinego is a retired pilot with over 4500 flying hours as a command, and operational pilot as well as a flight instructor.

   Senior Cadet Logan Muldoon, when asked for the most memorable detail about the colonel, recalled “The SR-71 (one of the more famous planes that Colonel Kinego flew) could fly at 85,000 feet and was so fast that if the sun was setting and he (Colonel Kinego) flew west, he would see the sun start to rise again.”

   The reason for this is that Colonel Kinego was flying faster than the earth was rotating. 

   Aviation museum

  Earlier this quarter multiple ROTC members were given the opportunity to tour the Navy Base and the Naval Aviation Museum. The students were able to go inside of the famed “Fat Albert”, try out military training simulators, and talk with current blue angel pilots.  

  Group Chief Paige Lorance said, “The atmosphere was very exciting and interesting. It was a good experience for all of us because it brought us together as a core. I showed us the bigger picture of ROTC that we represent.”