[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 20, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THE CHAPIN HIGH SCHOOL NAVAL JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING 
                               CORPS UNIT

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                           HON. FLOYD SPENCE

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 20, 1999

  Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
the House that the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) 
Unit at Chapin High School, in Chapin, South Carolina, has been 
selected as the ``Most Outstanding NJROTC Unit in the Nation'' by the 
Navy League of the United States. Recently, I had the great pleasure to 
present the Navy League Trophy to Chapin High School NJROTC Unit 
Commanding Officer David James Riser at a ceremony at the Chapin High 
School Stadium. This recognition was well received by those in 
attendance, and it was an obvious source of pride for the entire 
student body, as well as the faculty and the parents of the cadets.
  The Chapin High School NJROTC Unit is composed of a dynamic group of 
cadets that should serve as a model for others to follow across our 
Nation. This Unit has a diverse cadet population that includes: a class 
president, a homecoming queen, Eagle Scouts, the leader of the State 
Championship SAT Team, the editor of the school newspaper, the captain 
of the football team, the captain of the soccer team, the captain of 
the cross country track team, All-State Athletes, 46 varsity athletes, 
16 school band members, cheerleaders, and other dedicated students. The 
NJROTC Unit was established at Chapin High School in 1996, with 42 
cadets. From the start, this Unit excelled, being named the ``Best New 
Unit'' by the Area Commander for its first year. Three years later, the 
Unit has grown to include 16 percent of the school enrollment, with a 
waiting list of 35 students.
  The Chapin High School NJROTC Unit is led by two experienced Naval 
Science Instructors, Colonel Richard C. Slack and Senior Chief Petty 
Officer Charles W. Cook. Colonel Slack has had a distinguished career 
in the United States Marine Corps. Upon graduation from East Tennessee 
State University in 1967, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. 
In 1969, then-First Lieutenant Slack was designated as a Naval Aviator 
and he served in Southeast Asia for thirteen months. He progressed 
through the officer ranks for more than twenty years, also earning a 
Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University, in 
Saint Louis, Missouri, and a Master of International Strategy and 
Policy degree from the Naval War College, in Providence, Rhode Island. 
Colonel Slack served as the Chief of Staff for the Assistant Secretary 
of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) from 1989-1991, and he 
retired in 1996, as the Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval 
Science for the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit at The 
University of South Carolina.
  Senior Chief Petty Officer Charles W. Cook is the Associate Naval 
Science Instructor at Chapin High School. A native of Irmo, South 
Carolina, Senior Chief Cook attended Benedict College, The University 
of South Carolina, and DePaul University. He completed twenty years of 
active duty in the United States Navy, with eight years of regular duty 
and twelve years of recruiting duty. Among the honors that have been 
received by Senior Chief Cook during his Naval career are the ``Sailor 
of the Year Award,'' the ``National Recruiter of the Year Award,'' the 
``Recruiter-in-Charge of the Year Award,'' and the ``Zone Supervisor of 
the Year Award.''
  The Commanding Officer of the Chapin High School NJROTC Unit is David 
James Riser, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Wayne Riser, of 
Chapin. David Riser is an outstanding young man who has excelled in 
many areas as a student. He is the recipient of the ``First Place 
Chapin NJROTC Academic Award,'' the ``Certificate of Honorable (Cum 
Laude) Mention on the National Latin Examination,'' and the 
``Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Composition,'' among 
other awards. He also is a South Carolina Junior Scholar and he has 
been named to Who's Who Among American High School Students. Prior to 
his position as Commanding Officer, Cadet Riser served as the Supply 
Officer, and, then, as the Operations Officer of his NJROTC Unit.
  Mr. Speaker, I was an NROTC Midshipman at The University of South 
Carolina, and that experience provided the foundation upon which I have 
built my career in public service. As the Chairman of the House Armed 
Services Committee, I am a strong supporter of the JROTC and the ROTC 
Programs. The fine cadets at Chapin High School are excellent examples 
of what the JROTC Program stands for. I am very proud of what this 
outstanding group of high school students has accomplished. Since being 
established in 1996, the NJROTC Unit at Chapin High School has doubled 
in size, and 51 percent of the Freshman Class have enrolled in the 
NJROTC Unit for the 1999/2000 academic year. The Chapin High School 
NJROTC cadets have worked tirelessly to prove that they exemplify 
excellence, and I would like to offer my congratulations to them for 
being named the most outstanding NJROTC Unit in the Nation for 1999 by 
the Navy League of the United States.

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