BREWSTER – Brewster High School’s gymnasium was packed Tuesday as its Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) held its annual inspection before scores of parents, grandparents, school officials, and senior Navy officers.
The Brewster chapter, one of the only units in the entire Hudson Valley, consists of 130 students and since its start in 1983 has 4,300 students who have graduated.
Tuesday marked the first inspection for Joseph Becker, the school’s new naval science instructor. Inspecting Officer Gregory Washington congratulated Becker on his leadership.
Students stood at attention in full military uniform, with pressed pants, polished shoes, and neatly pinned medals. The inspection assessed whether the unit operated according to U.S. Navy standards and upheld them. The unit passed with “flying colors.”
Parents were proud.
Vee Bravo and Jasmine Scott relocated their families from Westchester to Putnam allowing their children to enroll in the NJROTC program.
Jeffrey Bryggman, a parent of four, three of whom have taken part in the program said, “Not every kid can throw a ball or write a poem.”
His daughter Juliette is the Commanding Officer. “It’s impressive to see cadets join the program, work as a team, get praised and watch their shoulders rise,” said the proud dad.
Lauren Borneman has two children enrolled. “We are the biggest co-curricular group on campus—kids from every lifestyle from band students, athletes, top students all meld together. The school is more accessible to them because upper class students and underclassmen are all together,” she said.
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