New Bern's Naval Junior ROTC cadets find unity and lifelong lessons

NEW BERN, Craven County — Our Blitz Premiere Matchup this week is a cross-county rivalry between Havelock and New Bern High Schools.

Before the game starts, New Bern High School Naval Junior ROTC cadets take the field serving as color guard.

But for these cadets, this early taste of military discipline carries lessons that last a lifetime.

Standing tall inside New Bern High School is the Naval Junior ROTC.

Aside from serving as colorguard for school and community events, the cadets, like Emily Childs, a Cadet Executive Officer, learn from each other, "Peer-to-peer mentorship is senior cadets taking on leadership roles and mentoring the underclassmen."

For the cadets, these drills lead to a sense of comradery.

"General bonding exercises to get everyone in the unit to act as a team and get everyone united. It's a lifestyle. It adds a little family approach to everybody it makes them feel united and like they have a place," said Maria Labra Ramirez, a Cadet Executive Officer.

That translates into lessons that last a lifetime.

"I feel like it has taught me a lot of etiquette and respect a lot having myself take charge and just being ready for any situation. It has made me more efficient it's made me think more made me more responsible for me more as a person thinking about people outside of me everything outside of me," Ramirez said.

Be sure to check out rival Havelock where their lessons come from nature.