WHEREAS, The Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) program was established by public law in 1964 and may be found in Title 10, Chapter 102 of the United States Code; and

WHEREAS, The NJROTC program is conducted at accredited secondary schools throughout the nation, by instructors who are retired Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers or enlisted personnel; and

WHEREAS, The NJROTC curriculum emphasizes citizenship and leadership development, as well as our maritime heritage, the significance of sea power, and naval topics such as the fundamentals of naval operations, seamanship, navigation, and meteorology; and

WHEREAS, Oak Harbor belongs to NJROTC Area 13, based at Smokey Point, which is comprised of approximately 50 schools in Nevada, Northern California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and Japan; and

WHEREAS, The top 15 percent of units are designated "Distinguished with Academic Honors"; and

WHEREAS, Oak Harbor NJROTC has been designated as a "Distinguished Unit with Academic Honors" for each of the past 10 years; and

WHEREAS, During the past two years, Oak Harbor NJROTC has represented NJROTC Area 13 in national competitions, including the Navy National Orienteering Championship and the JROTC National Air Rifle Championship in marksmanship; and

WHEREAS, Locally, Oak Harbor NJROTC teams compete in the Northwest Drill and Rifle Conference, comprised of approximately 30 high schools in Washington and Oregon, where they were conference champions in 2013 and 2014 and second place champions in 2015; and the Washington Interscholastic Orienteering League, where they were 2015 league champions; and

WHEREAS, Oak Harbor completed 3,500 hours of community service accomplished by students last year in support of the high school, school district, city of Oak Harbor, local civic groups, and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives recognize the Oak Harbor Navy Junior Reserved Officer Training Corps for its accomplishments in classroom instruction, augmented throughout the year by community service activities, drill competitions, field meets, flights, visits to naval activities, marksmanship training, and other military training; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Commander Mike Black and the Oak Harbor NJROTC Program.