Source: navy.mil
YOKOSUKA, Japan, (NNS) — A Kinnick High School senior in the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) unit was selected to attend a prominent leadership program, May 29.
The selectee is Megumi Serdan, 17, cadet ensign and executive officer of her NJROTC unit. This summer’s all-expense paid trip is to the General Tommy Franks Four Star Leadership Program at Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, Okla.
Serdan is the daughter of Dee Emelo and Satoko Serdan. Mr. Serdan is a retired petty officer first class currently working at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) as a materials handler at The Fleet Logistics Center.
Serdan was one of only 50 students selected for the leadership program from American High Schools that also includes Department of Defense high schools on military bases worldwide. The Four Star Leadership Program with Gen. Franks is a world-class summer leadership program that allows top high school students in the United States to have a face-to-face experience with national and international leaders. King Abdullah of Jordan, Governor Mike Huckabee, Governor Mary Fallin, General Tommy Franks, Secretary Jack Kemp, Governor Bill Richardson, Judge Andrew Napolitano, Senator James Inhofe and Olympic gold-medalist Michelle Smith are a few of the program participants over the past three years. The National Center for Policy Analysis, Oklahoma Christian University, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, and the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute & Museum have partnered to create this opportunity for the next generation of leaders.
According to the Four Star Leadership with General Tommy Franks website (http://fourstarleader.com/about-us/overview/), students receive the same policy briefings world leaders receive and then are challenged to address those issues individually in a persuasive speech and editorial, and collaboratively in a Student Congress format. The program includes teambuilding exercises, spontaneous problem solving and coaching in persuasive speaking and writing. Students have an opportunity to gain scholarships, internships and much more. When students win a scholarship for themselves, they also win a financial award for the school that nominated them to attend.
“I’m very honored, thankful, and excited to attend this program,” said Serdan. “I had no idea that my leadership in high school would give me a once in a lifetime opportunity like this.”
The Four Star Leadership Program is built around the core principles of character, common vision, communication and caring that guided General Franks through his 38-year U. S. Army career. The program promotes discovery for the America leaders of tomorrow.
The Four Star Leadership with General Tommy Franks Program is a partnership between the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute & Museum, the National Center for Policy Analysis, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, and Oklahoma Christian University’s Academy of Leadership & Liberty. Each organization is committed to investing in the next generation of leaders and to the Four Star Leadership mission of developing the kind of leaders who can solve problems and communicate solutions that will propel our world to greater peace, prosperity, and mutual respect.
“I’m hopeful that the skills I’ll learn in speech, debate, and problem solving at the Four Star Leadership program will help me in achieving my goal to earn a NROTC Scholarship and a future commission as a Naval Officer,” said Serdan.
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum is a national, world-class facility devoted to enhancing balanced decision-making through critical study of history. Its mission is to advance the understanding of historical events, encourage leadership development, and inspire enlightened decision-making by providing a forum for critical thinking through scholarly research, exhibits, and public programs. The museum, located in southwest Oklahoma, includes artifacts, papers, dioramas, and interactive components that appeal to visitors of all ages, interests, and educational backgrounds.
The Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) program seeks to instill in participating high school students the values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment. The NJROTC programs strive to build a strong foundation of citizenship within America’s future leaders.
The NJROTC program is currently overseen by Commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), Rear Adm. Dee L. Mewbourne, headquartered at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill. NSTC oversees 98 percent initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy. This training includes the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program at more than 150 colleges and universities that either host NROTC units or have cross-town enrollment agreements with a host university. NSTC also oversees Officer Training Command (OTC) in Newport, R.I., Recruit Training Command (RTC) at NSGL, as well as NJROTC.
NSTC’s NJROTC program is divided into 11 areas across the United States that also includes units in Italy, Spain, Japan and Guam. There are more than 86,000 student cadets in the more than 580 units. Area 13 covers the most ground starting in Papillion, Neb., and stretching across the Pacific Ocean to Yokosuka, Japan. There are 13 Northwest states in Area 13 including Hawaii, Guam and Japan, totaling 6,086.9 miles. Texas and Florida are their own areas with 68 units in Florida (Area 4) and 55 units in Texas (Area 10). Area 6 in North Carolina and South Carolina high schools host 67 units while Area 11 in Southern California and Arizona have more than 50 units. Other areas encompass the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Plains States and Southwest. The Everett High School NJROTC unit is in Area 13.Currently NJROTC and NNDCC units are operating at more than 600 high schools around the world with more than 89,000 cadets participating.
In addition to regular classroom instruction, NJROTC cadets participate in a number of extra-curricular activities throughout the school year and during the summer months that are designed to stimulate learning by hands-on experiences and to reinforce the program’s curriculum. Cadet extra-curricular activities include community service projects, drill competitions, academic competitions, visits to naval installations, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) training.
For more information about NSTC, visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/