Fifty-one members of Chapin High School’s own J.R.O.T.C. group left Friday, September 30 to spend a weekend touring The Naval Academy and Washington D.C.

Colonel Slack said the purpose of the trip was to “orient the cadets with the Naval Academy and Marine Base.”

Additional destinations included the Marine Corps museum, various Washington monuments, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the World War II monument.  Chapin cadets were also able to attend the Air Force vs. Navy football game.

Cadets were also treated to a formal dining in at Quantico Officers Club with guest speakers and entertainment.

The Marine Corps Museum particularly stood out for many.

“It’s like a modern Smithsonian; it contains Marine Corps history from the Revolution through our involvement in the Middle East,” says Slack.

The museum even had authentic Vietnam news reels playing on vintage sixties televisions. Alexis Comose said the highlight of the trip was the Air Force vs. Navy game. In fact, the J.R.O.T.C. was invited to march in the traditional parade before the game.

The cadets also got a visit from one of their own, Chapin High School alumnus Ryan O’Neil who is attending the Naval Academy.

Jessica DeSousa, Daniel Francheschina, and Matthew Hite are among the seniors applying this fall.

J.R.O.T.C. arrived back home Sunday night with a new understanding of life in the Navy.