Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Enthusiasm sinks as Navy cancels high school flight

Thirty-nine members of the Navy Junior ROTC program at Clark High School missed a flight to Virginia when their plane was appropriated for another Navy operation.

Two other Navy planes that could have been used were found to have mechanical deficiencies. The junior ROTC troops were therefore grounded and unable to compete in a national drill competition.

"There's no question the right decision was made, but I just wish I hadn't been the one to stand up in front of 39 sad faces this morning," Capt. Raymond Kellett, a Naval Science instructor at Clark High School, said Thursday.

The students were scheduled to leave at 8 a.m. Thursday. They found out about the cancellation when they arrived on campus with their luggage at 7 a.m.

There was no time to seek other arrangements to the competition taking place today, but Kellett said it wouldn't have made a difference.

"The price was right and we really didn't have any other options. Our students couldn't afford a $350 round-trip ticket," Kellet said.

The U.S.S. Carter Hall, stationed off the coast of Virginia, had agreed to let the students sleep on board during the three-day visit. Norfolk State University in Hampton Roads, Va., was sponsoring the national meet.

Clark High School's program was to represent the Western Region after placing first in a regional drill competition. A San Diego high school placed second and was scheduled to ride on the same airlift.

"We don't begrudge the Navy. They are the only armed force that does this. The Army doesn't and the Air Force doesn't. It's just unfortunate that it got canceled this time," Kellett said.

The Navy makes room on its airlifts on a space-available basis for transporting Navy ROTC troops across country.

Parents concerned about the cancellation offered to bring the students ice cream. Kellett said he would rather have had some airplane tickets, but welcomed the treats instead.

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