Welcome Aboard Chief Tate

This fall Grenada High School’s NJROTC added a new instructor to the faculty, Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Larry Tate. He will be working alongside Chief Foreman. Chief Tate joins the GHS faculty after a 23-year career in the navy. Most recently he served at Navy Recruiting Command in Millington, Tennesse. His career began as a gas-turbine mechanic and includes time on a guided missile cruiser and in counter-drug operations.

Chief Tate recalls growing up in nearby Webster County and hearing his grandfather’s stories about his time in the Navy during the Korean War. He knew that after high school he wanted the chance to travel and experience different cultures.

He was at boot camp on September 11, 2001, and remembers an immediate shift in the military’s posture and security concerns. Tate graduated from Naval Station Great Lakes outside of Chicago in a private ceremony as visitors were not allowed on the base at the time.

After graduation, he was an E-2 Seaman Apprentice aboard a guided missile destroyer. Eventually his duties involved working alongside other federal agencies such as the DEA and Coast Guard on drug interdiction in South America.

Junior enlisted ranks in the Navy progress from E-1 (Seaman Recruit) to E-6 (Petty Officer First Class). Each rank requires specific qualifications and leadership responsibilities. E-4s oversee E-1s, 2s, and 3s, while an E5 acts as an intermediary between E4-s and E-6s, the technical experts in a field.

The NJRTOC program follows a similar rank structure with responsibilities for training and command over other cadets to being a technical expert for your unit. NJROTC aims to develop well-rounded students who graduate with experience in leadership, discipline, and personal growth. They guide students to use these skills inside or outside of the Navy, not pushing students towards one choice or another.

NJROTC programs help students make decisions about their future, including college and career options. They offer benefits such as financial assistance for college and job opportunities after graduation.

Chief Tate hopes his students build self-confidence and leadership skills. He encourages them to step out of their comfort zones and develop communication abilities. He wants to clarify that contrary to misconceptions, NJROTC is not a boot camp, but a program that offers valuable life skills and opportunities for personal growth. Students can explore various aspects of ROTC, including drone programs and drill teams, and may even choose to pursue a career in the military after graduation.

Students can take part in NJROTC programs as early as the 8th grade. Anyone interested can reach out to any of our cadets, Chief Tate, or Chief Foreman.