Author: VICTOR APONTE

The SLW Centennials High School’s Navy JROTC performed Color Guard duties at Indian River State College (IRSC) Veteran’s Job Fair held at their on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at their Pruitt Campus. The Color Guard was performed by Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Deanna Simpson (Left Rifleman), Cadet Lieutenant Brandon Ramirez (Color Guard Commander Ensign Flagman), Cadet Petty Officer Second Class Payton Brown (USMC Flagman), and Cadet Petty Officer First Class Jacob Ramos (Right Rifleman). The Color Guard was honored to perform for IRSC for this event. IRSC hosted multiple Veteran’s during their event that were able to share their … Read More

The SLW Centennial High School’s Navy JROTC participated in multiple Veterans Day Ceremonies.  The Color Guard Team was comprised of Cadet Petty Officer First Class Jacob Ramos (Right Rifleman), Cadet Lieutenant Brandon Ramos (Ensign Flagman Color Guard Commander), Cadet Third Class Petty Officer Andrew Witz-Schaffer (USMC Flagman), Cadet Petty Officer Second Class Brody Neslter, and Cadet Petty Officer Second Class Zoey Fletcher (Left Rifleman). The first Color Guard event was at the PGA Village where a Veterans Day Brunch was hosted in honor of Congressman Brian Mast.  The cadets met the Congressman and were ask to stay for brunch and … Read More

Congratulations to the SLW Centennial NJROTC Academic Team! They competed in the Nova Brain Brawl on Saturday, November 8th, 2025, against 16 other NJROTC teams. Team Alpha consisted of c/PO3 Andrew Witz-Schaffer, c/LT Brandon Ramirez, c/PO1 Jacob Ramos, c/PO1 Eli Ross, and c/SN Noah Lucuara. They made it through the Quarter-Finals, survived the Semi-Finals and made it all the way to the Finals and finished in 3rd Place and are coming home with the 3rd Place. Bravo Team consisted of c/PO2 Nolan Hamel, c/PO3 Cameron Pecci, c/PO2 Brody Nestler, c/PO2 Payton Brown, and c/SR Mackenzie Chapman. They made it through … Read More

  Congratulations to the SLW Centennial NJROTC Academic Team! They competed in the Cooper City Brain Brawl on Saturday, October 25th, 2025, against 16 other NJROTC teams. Team Alpha consisted of c/PO3 Andrew Witz-Schaffer, c/LT Brandon Ramirez, c/PO1 Jacob Ramos, c/PO1 Eli Ross, and c/SN Noah Lucuara. They made it through the Quarter-Finals, survived the Semi-Finals and made it all the way to the Finals and finished in 2nd Place and are coming home with the 2nd Place Plaque! Bravo Team consisted of c/PO2 Nolan Hamel, c/PO3 Cameron Pecci, c/PO2 Brody Nestler, c/SR Michael Triana, and c/SR Mackenzie Chapman. They … Read More

  Congratulations to the SLW Centennial High School Navy JROTC “Black Talon” Navy Eagle Company!  They competed on Saturday, October 18th, 2025, in the Congressman Brian Mast Cadet Competition on the grounds of the Navy Seal Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida.  The Centennial “Black Talon” NJROTC Team competed against 7 other JROTC units to include the Sea Cadets, Treasure Coast HS AFJROTC, and Martin County HS AFJROTC, for the opportunity and honor of carrying Congressman Brian Mass’ Guidon for the 2025-2026 school year. The Cadet Competition consisted of several events that included Personnel Uniform Inspection, Color Guard Drill, as well … Read More

  Congratulations to St. Lucie West Centennial High School’s Navy JROTC “Black Talon” Navy Eagles Company, who earned the Distinguished Unit designation Award! Every year, the “Distinguished Unit” designation or “Award” is awarded annually to schools whose NJROTC Program ranks in the top 30 percent of the programs in each NJROTC area.  Competing units are ranked according to the degree of excellence attained in Administration, Academic Performance, Military Proficiency, and host school support, to include outstanding dedication from the cadets and staff in the NJROTC program. This is the 7th consecutive year in which the SLW Centennial Navy JROTC program … Read More

Congratulations to the SLW Centennial HS Navy JROTC Black Talon Company!  On Saturday, September 27th, 2025, the area High School JROTC teams from the Treasure Coast went head to head to win this year’s title of The Do-You-Give-A-Ruck Freedom Festival and Memorial Ruck March Cadet Competition. Each team was charged with completing a 3.43 Mile Ruck (or backpack March) at an average of 15.00 minute mile pace, carrying an average load of 25-35 lbs each. The SLW Centennial HS NJROTC provided a Color Guard before the festivities began. This year, our competitors decided to go that extra mile and carry … Read More

The SLW Centennial HS Navy JROTC honored the souls that were lost during the Patriot Day Ceremony on September 11, 2025.  The Ceremony was conducted at 8:00am at which time the company was brought to attention and the Company Commanding Officer, c/LCDR Brittany Burke.  She had the company “Present Arms” (salute) as the Ensign (United States Flag) was raised by the Flag Detail. The Flag Detail, c/SN Cameron Pecci and c/SN Jess Fasci, and the Flag Detail Commander, c/PO3 Angel Flannigan, raised the Ensign slowly to the top of the Flag Mast and then slowly brought it down to half-mast … Read More

The SLW Centennial HS Navy JROTC Black Talon Company provided a stunning backdrop during the Homecoming Event on Friday, September 26th, 2025. However, before the Homecoming court was announced, NJRTOC provided a Color Guard so the game could begin.  The Color Guard was performed by c/PO3 Angel Flannigan (Right Rifleman), c/PO1 Eli Ross (Ensign Flagman and Color Guard Commander), c/SN Jess Fasci (USMC Flagman), c/PO3 Andrew Witz-Schaffer (USN Flagman), and c/SN Noah Lucuara (Left Rifleman). During half-time of the varsity Football Game versus Westwood High School, the NJROTC provided  a “50 State Flag Honors” to all of the Homecoming court … Read More

On Friday, September 19th, 2025, the SLW Centennial HS Navy JROTC Black Talon Company participated in a Candle Lighting Ceremony hosted by the Vietnam Veterans Association of the Treasure Coast.   The Ceremony is done to honor those warriors who have lost their lives, or have gone “Missing In Action” (MIA), or have been captured as “Prisoners of War” (POW) during our country’s wars and battles. The ceremony lights a candle in honor of those souls that are lost or have gone missing. A candle is lit for every battle or war that the United States has participated in during … Read More

The SLW Centennial Navy JROTC “Black Talon” Navy Eagle Company traveled to Tampa Bay this weekend and competed in the Riverview High School’s NJROTC “Battle of the Sharks” Drill Competition held in Riverview, Florida. The “Black Talon” Company Drill Competition Team earned two trophies during their first Drill Competition of the year! The “Black Talon” Drill Competition Team earned the following awards: 5th Place Academics 6th Place Personnel Inspection 6th Place Unarmed Basic Drill 6th Place Team Sit-Ups 3rd Place 100m Relay (Trophy) 4th Place Overall Athletics (Trophy) The “Black Talon” Company looks forward to many more Drill Competitions and … Read More

The SLW Centennial High School’s NJROTC Navy Eagles “Black Talon” Academic Team traveled to Nova High School in Davie, Florida on Saturday, December 16th, 2023 to participate in their Nova “Brain Brawl” Academic Challenge.  The Academic Team competed against 15 other NJROTC units from South Florida in a “Jeopardy” type academic competition.  Each unit’s team consists of four members and they compete against three other teams at the same time.  So sixteen students are listening and “buzzing” in to answer questions during a 10 to 15-minute round. The SLW Centennial NJROTC “Black Talon” Team “Alpha” consisted of Cadet Petty Officer … Read More

The SLW Centennial High School’s Navy JROTC Navy Eagles “Black Talon” Company volunteered to participate in the Port St. Lucie’s Toys for Tots program.  The “Black Talon” Cadets volunteered to work on December 16th, 17th, 19th, and 20th, 2023, to assist the Toys for Tots program in providing gifts for underprivileged children in the Port Saint Lucie area.  Hopefully they will allow them to have a holiday to remember.  Families that need assistance to provide toys and gifts for their children can reach out to the Toys for Tots program if they need a little help during the holiday season. … Read More

The SLW Centennial High School’s Navy JROTC visited Central High School in Brooksville, Florida to participate in the NJROTC Area 7 “Florida” Air Rifle State Championships on Saturday, December 2nd, 2023. The Air Rifle Championships are open to participating NJROTC programs that have an active Marksmanship Program.  The participants shoot at targets that are 33 feet or 10 meters away.  They submit targets for the three positions that they shot in.  Those positions are Prone (laying down), Standing, and Kneeling. SLW Centennial NJROTC “Black Talon” Company had 4 teams that participated. Team “A” consisted of Casey Scott, Sean Stewart, Zachary … Read More

  The SLW Centennial High School’s Navy JROTC Navy Eagles “Black Talon” Company visited the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island on a field trip from November 28th until December 1st, 2023. The field trip is based on what a “Marine Recruit” would experience. When the cadets arrive they proceed to barrack check-in and learn how to make a “rack” and store their belongings, they proceed to the Mess Hall for “chow” and learn how to eat quickly while sitting at attention. The cadets had real-life stressors to deal with while at “Boot Camp” to include participating in PT (Physical … Read More

The SLW Centennial High School’s Navy JROTC “Black Talon” Navy Eagles Company participated in the SLW Centennial Senior Pinning Night Ceremony held at the school’s gymnasium on Thursday, November 9th, 2023.  They provided ushers to hand out ceremony programs as well as guide parents and visitors to their seats. The Color Guard was performed by Cadet Petty Officer Third Class Jacob Ramos (Left Rifleman), Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Sean Stewart (Ensign Flagman and Color Guard Commander), Cadet Petty Officer Second Class D’Andre Bramwell (Unit Flagman), and Cadet Second Class Petty Officer Natalia Ventura (Right Rifleman).   Program distribution and … Read More

Every month the SLW Centennial High School’s NJROTC “Black Talon” Navy Eagles Company performs “Adopt-A-Street” and “Campus Clean-up” operations on a one-and-a-half-mile section of Cashmere Boulevard as well as the SLW Centennial High School Campus. This tradition has been in place for over 16 years and has contributed to thousands of pounds a trash being removed from the streets and campus around SLW Centennial High School and it’s neighborhood. Cadets earn community service hours for their participation every month as they also beautify the neighborhood!  It’s a WIN-WIN for everyone! Honk if you see us out cleaning-up your neighborhood next … Read More

The SLW Centennial High School’s NAVY JROTC Navy Eagles “Black Talon” Company provided a 50 State Flag Honor Guard to celebrate Senior Night on Friday, October 27th, 2023 at the St. Lucie County Regional Stadium prior to the varsity football game versus Lake Brantley. The Honor Guard honored all seniors starting with the NJROTC Seniors, then the Football Seniors, followed by Cheerleader Seniors. The “Black Talon” Seniors that were honored during Senior Night were Cadet Lieutenant Commander Alesha Alexandre (Black Talon’s Commanding Officer), Cadet Lieutenant Casey Scott (Black Talon’s Executive Officer), Cadet Ensign Faith Miller (Black Talon’s Operations Officer), Cadet … Read More

The SLW Centennial High School’s NAVY JROTC “Black Talon” Navy Eagles Company performed the Opening Ceremony Color Guard for the 41st Annual Chili Cook-Off sponsored by the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County. The event took place on Saturday, October 21st, 2023, at the Clover Park “Mets” Stadium in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Color Guard was performed by Cadet Ensign Faith Miller (Left Rifleman), Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Sean Stewart (Ensign Flagman and Color Guard Commander), Cadet Lieutenant Commander Alesha Alexandre (Unit Flagman), and Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Mayreeana Neston (Right Rifleman).

The SLW Centennial High School’s Navy JROTC Navy Eagles “Black Talon” Company had the honor of performing the Opening Ceremonies for the United Florida Hockey Club Tournament on Thursday evening, October 26th, 2023 at Halpatiokee Regional Park in Stuart, Florida. The Honor Guard was performed by Cadet Ensign Faith Miller (Left Rifleman), Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Sean Stewart (Ensign Flagman and Honor Guard Commander), Cadet Petty Officer First Class Athaniel Morales (Army Flagman), Cadet Petty Officer Second Class D’Andre Bramwell (Marine Corps Flagman), Cadet Petty Officer First Class Kristian Claudio (Navy Flagman), Cadet Petty Officer First Class Zachary Columbia … Read More