Atten-hut! Cadets shine as St. Johns County high school notches major achievement on national stage

Skip to content Home News Atten-hut! Cadets shine as St. Johns County high school notches major achievement on national stage By Rebecca Rosenberg on April 22, 2026 on 3:45 pm Updated on: 04/22/2026 Share this post : Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Nease NJROTC cadets. Cadets from Nease High School are celebrating a impressive achievement after earning 3rd place at the Naval Junior Reserve Officers training Corps (NJROTC) Nationals competition in Pensacola. Competing against more than 630 units from across the nation, the Panther squad was one of only 23 teams to qualify for the prestigious event. Showing pride and poise, the Nease cadets showcased their skills across a range of events, including drill routines, athletics, and academic challenges. The team took third place overall at the national competition. Their top-three finish reflects months of rigorous preparation and discipline, the district said. The program’s success was guided by dedicated instructors Warrant Officer Michael Donato, Master Chief Duane Spears, and 1st Sergeant Kevin Davis, whose leadership played a critical role in preparing the team for competition. School leadership was also on hand to back the cadets, with Nease Principal Gina Fonseca attending the event and meeting Rear Admiral Gregory Huffman during the competition. “Congratulations to these exceptional cadets on representing Nease and the St. Johns County School District with excellence!” officials wrote in a celebratory Facebook post. The NJROTC is a high school program sponsored by the United States Navy that teaches students leadership, citizenship, and personal responsibility through a military-inspired curriculum. The curriculum includes classroom instruction, physical fitness, community service, and extracurricular activities including drill competitions, color guard, and academic teams. Share this post : Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Newsletter Sign up for breaking updates, exclusive stories, and community events. Leave this field empty if you're human: Search Search Newsletter Sign up for breaking updates, exclusive stories and community events. Subscribe