[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 123 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OF ESCAMBIA HIGH SCHOOL NAVY 
                 JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 2014

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
Escambia High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps 
(NJROTC) for placing first in this year's Navy League NJROTC drill team 
competition. This outstanding achievement is evidence of the hard work 
and dedication of the Escambia High NJROTC program.
  After a year of three to four hour long practices after school, a 
combined 15,000 hours of community service required to satisfy NJROTC 
standards, and months of local and regional competitions, the ``Gator 
Elite,'' as they're known, beat out more than 600 other NJROTC programs 
to achieve the highest honor and bring this prestigious recognition 
back to Northwest Florida.
  In addition to the normal academic coursework, the members of 
Escambia High's NJROTC program were required to comply with rigorous 
procedures to maintain discipline through uniform inspections and 
strict grooming standards, while also mastering the core components of 
drill team exercises, through marching practice and adroit handling of 
rifles in showmanship fashion. The ``Gator Elite'' achieved these tasks 
with the highest degree of excellence, as evidenced by their first 
place performance at the NJROTC national championships.
  On behalf of the United States Congress, it is my privilege to 
congratulate the Escambia High NJROTC ``Gator Elite''--Corey 
Abercrombie, Joshua Aguilar, Alexander Apin, Nigel Archer-Shee, Alexis 
Cannon, Michael Cox, Faith Doby, Audrey Ferrand, Emerrald Francis, 
Julia Freeman, Ruben Gardner Jr., Christopher Gibson, Cassandra 
Harrison, Katelin Hayes, Daniel Helms, Thalezondra Hill-Dowdy, Matthew 
Holmes, Brenda Jernigan, JoseRafael Kaibigan, Angelique Le, Jared Lyon, 
Jason Mitchell, Andrew Nicolle, Austin Odell, Jeremiah Renfro, Destiny 
Seladones, Jimmie Simmons, Alfonso Sosa, Antonio Stone, Brian Thompson, 
Kenny Tu, Alphonso Williams, Erik Williams, Nicholas Willig, Alex 
Wilson and Brieonna Wilson and their instructors, LCDR Eddie Thompson 
(USN, Ret.), SCPO Ruben Gardner (USN, Ret.), and SGTMAJ Andre Francis 
(USMC, Ret.). My wife Vicki joins me in wishing them all the best for 
continued success.

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