Last modified Wed., February 27, 2008 - 04:02 PM
Originally created Thursday, February 28, 2008

NJROTC Students Get Look At USS Klakring

By Ensign Peter Goodman and Ensign Graham Tompson, USS Klakring Public Affairs

Forty-three Navy Junior ROTC cadets, five chaperones, and two military instructors were welcomed aboard USS Klakring (FFG 42) Feb. 15 for a tour of the ship and to meet with its crew.

The visitors were from two different schools, Luthonia High School and SW Dekalb High School, both in Dekalb County, Georgia, approximately 20 miles east of Atlanta.

The students marched to the ship in formation, and came aboard in crisp military fashion, rendering snappy salutes to the Ensign and the Officer of the Deck before receiving permission to come aboard.

The guests were welcomed by the ship's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Ian Pollitt, who discussed both the ship's mission in the context of the Global War on Terror, and described what daily life is like as a Sailor in today's Navy.

JROTC cadets board USS Klakring for a tour of the ship. Photo by Ensign Peter Goodman

After a lengthy question-and-answer session, they broke into smaller groups for tours of the ship. Klakring Sailors Ensign Carl Amolat, Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) Timothy Lumpkin, Store Keeper 2nd Class (AW) Nathaniel Robinson, Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Eric Conklin, and Information Technician Seaman (SW) Joshua Lawson served as tour guides, answering a host of questions about the ship, and about their own personal experiences in the Navy.

Back home, the Cadets are kept busy with an accelerated program of professional development, gathering twice a week at their high schools for unit training. They are very proud that one of their alumni recently graduated from the United States Naval Academy and is now serving on active duty as a submarine officer. When polled, almost 25 percent of the group indicated their intention to serve in the military as a career.

The visit to Klakring and NS Mayport was part of a larger tour of Jacksonville naval installations; they also spent several days time touring Naval Air Station Jacksonville and learning about naval aviation. They also found time to log some "R&R" with a mid-week visit to Universal Studios in Orlando.

Klakring's crew welcomed the opportunity to show off their ship, and closed by reminding the cadets that upon graduation, they were welcome back aboard at any time - as members of the crew.