A handful of students from schools in the greater San Diego area, Coronado High School included, partook in a fitness competition and training session on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.
The event on May 9 was part of a new outreach by Naval Special Warfare Assessment Command (NSWAC), and was specifically for students in the Navy Junior Reserves Officers Training Corps (NJROTC).
NSWAC, originated on the Amphibious base in Coronado, focuses on nationwide outreach for Naval Special Warfare (NSW), a maritime special operations force that is part of the naval component of the United States Special Operations Command. The Navy SEAL teams fall under NSW as well.
NSWAC was established in Aug. 2022 and has organized over 40 events across the country in the last year. Aside from events, the command also had 80 visits to Coronado, targeting diverse groups as part of their outreach, according to NSW Public Affairs Officer Chelsea Irish.
NJROTC is a high school program that emphasizes service to America, leadership development and provides military training and maritime history by instructors who are retired Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard officers, and enlisted personnel.
The training session event on May 9 provided camaraderie between local high school students and members of NSWAC, while also informing the cohort on career paths and future opportunities, Irish said.
There were 36 total NJROTC students from Coronado High School, Mar Vista High School, San Ysidro High School and a handful of other schools in the greater San Diego County area that met on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.
The event started with a classroom session focused on the history of NSW before moving on to a physical training session on the beach led by NSWAC members.
It ended with a tour of the NSW center training facilities.
“After the NJROTC visit, I felt an immense sense of pride and responsibility,” NSWAC Operations Officer Lawrence Borja said. “Seeing these young individuals’ enthusiasm and curiosity about the NSW community, not only reaffirms the importance of our mission, but also inspires us to continue setting an example of excellence and dedication.”
According to the Navy’s website, 61% of NJROTC students continue on to post-secondary education, including ROTC programs and military academies, and 47% of program graduates intend to enter military service.
“It’s refreshing and motivating to engage with the next generation who might one day walk in our footsteps,” Borja said.
