Cadets snap a sharp salute during AMI opening ceremony. Photo by Juan Orozco.

By Juan Orozco

If you noticed that our NJROTC students were looking especially spiffy recently, there is a reason for that. They were preparing for and taking part in the annual military inspection. The entire PHS-NJROTC Regiment, consisting of 380 cadets, put on an outstanding show on Thursday, February 28, as they completed their inspection.

What many people may not know is just how much it takes to prepare and execute this inspection. The cadets got a chance to demonstrate the proper wear of their naval science uniform, their skills in military drill, both armed and unarmed, and their level of military knowledge.

Senior Chief McMasters, the Senior Naval Science Instructor of the Program said, “This is the one time during the school year when the cadets get the opportunity to show what they have learned throughout the year to visiting inspectors. It is always very satisfying to see each and every cadet, for the most part, rise to the occasion.”

This inspection is the most important inspection of the year for the ROTC program.
Held once every year, AMI is a chance for all cadets to show their best. Cadets are organized into perspective platoons, of about 15 people each. AMI is one of just a few events that the entire regiment meets together. Seeing every cadet in the ROTC dressed perfectly all in one spot is a spectacle.

One can feel the pride of belonging to something important. Junior Juan Orozco said, “I feel like I belong to something larger than myself and it inspires pride.”

The military unity demonstrated at the AMI does not happen by accident, and we usually practice for the entire week before inspection. There is a lot of preparation that goes into AMI. All cadets have to make sure that their uniform is the best it can possibly be. Not only cleaned and pressed, but every patch and pin needs to be placed perfectly.

AMI begins with a ceremony, where one of our chiefs welcome everyone and instructs what we are going to do. We also have the presentation of colors, along with the Pledge of Allegiance, and the singing of the national anthem. What makes this inspection more important than any other is that our peers or our instructors do not grade us.

We have special guests from the Navy that come and inspect us. This year we were fortunate enough to have the Area 4 Manager, Commander Jimmy Miller, inspect us.

After inspection, we “Troop To Line.” Commander Jimmy Miller, Cadet Captain Jessie Pimintel, and Cadet Commander Ariel Aguilar walk in front of every platoon, standing at full attention, and the platoon commander will snap a salute to those three officers. After the inspection, we had both Unarmed and Armed Platoon do a performance to demonstrate the expertise of the drill team.

As we approach the close of this school year and bid “Fair Winds and Following Seas” to our senior cadets, we are very excited about recruiting new students from the middle school to join our ranks. The new students will be introduced to the program during the NJROTC Freshman Orientation Program scheduled to be held for one week during the summer break.