Navy, Marine Corps officers give back to future leaders

Navy and Marine Corps officers judged a Navy Junior ROTC drill competition at Moody High School in Corpus Christi, Jan. 25.

Moody hosted students from over a dozen South Texas schools who competed in a wide variety of events designed to test each cadet’s physical fitness, attention to detail, and essential Navy knowledge.

Many of the officers who volunteered to serve as judges were student naval aviators from Training Wing (TRAW- ING) 4 and Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22 onboard Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. They donated their time to give back to the local community and motivate future leaders while awaiting flight training.

Senior Naval Science Instructor retired Navy Cmdr. Scott Outlaw led the competition at Moody.

“This is the first time we’ve hosted a drill competition,” Outlaw said. “To have active-duty Sailors and Marines serve as judges is a great opportunity for the cadets to ask questions. They all take great pride in their units and spend countless hours a week practicing, which is evident by the performances today.”

Ensign Harry Kubena, a student naval aviator from TRAWING 4 and former member of the U.S. Naval Academy Color Guard, volunteered as a judge.

“I was a member of the Magnolia High School JROTC drill team in Houston, Texas, for four years,” Kubena said. “It was through the JROTC program that I was able to get into the Academy, and with my prior drill experience I was able to make the Color Guard. It’s incredible that as an officer I have the opportunity to come full circle. I’m judging the same schools I competed with in high school, and to be able to give back to the next generation of leaders is an honor.”

TRAWING 4, established in 1972, is one of five air wings under the Chief of Naval Air Training. It comprises four training squadrons: the “Boomers” of VT-27, the “Rangers” of VT-28, the “Wise Owls” of VT-31, and the “Stingrays” of VT-35, all of which include Navy Reserve component squadron augment units. Student naval aviators receive basic flight training in the T-6B Texan II at VTs 27 and 28, while VTs 31 and 35 provide intermediate and advanced flight training in T-44C Pegasus multi-engine aircraft.MATSG-22 enables Marine aviation training through Service advocacy and administrative support, while reinforcing Marine Corps values, principles, and competencies, in order to forge future Marine aviators for the Fleet Marine Force.