Welcome from the Senior Naval Instructor

Welcome! Whether you are a returning cadet or new to the program, I hope you will find your time in the program enjoyable, productive, mentally and physically challenging, and memorable. While you are a cadet, we expect that you will do your best to live by the Navy JROTC’s Core Values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. We hope you will strive to learn how to be a leader and build your individual character by pushing yourself beyond your previous limits, and setting an example of tolerance and teamwork for all CNHS students to emulate. In order to accomplish these things, you must make every effort to individually strengthen your own self-discipline.

First, let me define our Core Values for you. Core Values emanate from the very fiber of your being. They, in effect, are you – the core of your being. HONOR – H. L. Mencken (American author) wrote: “The difference between a moral man and a man of honor is that the latter regrets a discreditable act, even when it has worked and he has not been caught.” I totally agree with this statement. Be strong in mind, spirit and body, and do the right thing because it is what should be done, not what your peers define as right. COURAGE – This goes hand-in-hand with Honor. Be brave enough to do and say the right thing regardless of the consequences you perceive. This is especially true when dealing with fellow students. Don’t do and say what they want you to do or say – have the guts to do it the right way because you have the courage to do the right thing. COMMITMENT – Be true to your word. If you say you will do a certain thing, do it! If you swear that you believe something, have the courage to say publicly that you believe it and you will honor yourself.

Every student in our NJROTC Program requested to become a cadet. During our selection process, I believe it was made perfectly clear that there would be higher expectations for members of the CNHS NJROTC. These expectations exceed that for average students at CNHS and include a higher standard of personal integrity; greater respect for each other, our school and community; and a willingness to work hard to improve individually and as a group. We have been recognized as a ‘Distinguished Unit with Honors’ for the past seven consecutive years. Our reputation has grown nationally and we want to strive to continue this through school year.

Our goals for this year are simple: strive to have our unit recognized as a ‘Distinguished Unit with Honors’ for an eighth consecutive year; improve cadets average SAT scores by 50 points to increase opportunities for cadets acceptances into colleges and universities; and continue to improve the success of all our extracurricular teams – Academic, Athletic, Drill, & Orienteering – by striving to finish 5th place or higher at all national level competitions. The first of our goals will require hard work and focus by everyone to earn recognition once again as a Distinguished Unit. The end result will be pride in our accomplishments – a great feeling that all cadets can share.

I am eager for another exciting and rewarding year of accomplishments for our unit. I look forward to getting to know the cadets and their parents better, and working to make the cadets’ time at CNHS a great and memorable experience they will cherish forever.

Your proud Colts Neck High School Senior Naval Science Instructor,

Gregory J. Penczak, USMC (Ret)

Senior Naval Science Instructor’s Vision Statement:

I believe that as an adult, a parent, a teacher – a leader – it is my duty to provide opportunities for those placed in my charge. These opportunities will allow them to explore new possibilities; learn from new experiences; face new challenges; and expand their dreams for futures. As a teacher/instructor in the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC), I enjoy a unique position that allows me to not only teach my students but to offer them opportunities that exceed those of average high school students. I will do my utmost to continually encourage my students to dream and provide them opportunities that enable them to grow in self confidence, experience individual and group pride, and increase personal maturity by teaching them to accept responsibilities for their actions. In so doing, I envision a group of young adults who will be individually and collectively successful and recognized as noteworthy representatives of the United States Navy, Colts Neck High School and their hometown communities.