Mastic Beach, NY, September 25, 2013 – The William Floyd NJROTC (Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) recently held their cadet commissioning ceremony in front of the Old Mastic House at the William Floyd Estate, the site of the ancestral home, grounds and cemetery of the family of William Floyd, a Revolutionary War General and one of 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. At the commissioning ceremony, William Floyd’s Naval Science instructors selected Cadet Lieutenant Danielle Tartaglione as the new commanding officer and Cadet Lieutenant (junior grade) Bobby Vecchio as the new executive officer.

Cadet Tartaglione, a senior and four-year member of NJROTC, plays in the school orchestra and is a member of the William Floyd High School Student Government. After graduation she has her eyes set on the Marine Corps, either attending college on one of the scholarship programs or enlisting. Currently her top school of choice is Villanova University in Pennsylvania. In her free time, Tartaglione enjoys English horse riding, a sport which she has participated in since she was 9-years old.

Cadet Vecchio, also a senior and four-year member of NJROTC, recently attended New York Boys State, where he passed a mock bar examination and successfully ran for the position of city attorney. He serves as the President of William Floyd’s Youth & Government Club and likes to mentor new cadets and compete in drill competitions. Vecchio is interested in applying for an Army ROTC scholarship for college next year and studying law. 

As leaders of the NJROTC program at William Floyd, Tartaglione and Vecchio have significant responsibilities, which include: leading field trips and classes; providing guidance, encouragement and support to their fellow students; and setting the overall standards of the unit.

Several other cadets were selected as Department Heads and Platoon Leaders to assist Tartaglione and Vecchio in their duties. These additional cadet officers will report on various functions such as administration issues; training and education; maintenance and cadet uniform issues.

“These students embody everything we value here at school and in the program – good grades, good attitudes and a great work ethic,” said Senior Chief Dwight Becherer, Naval Science Instructor. “They’ve worked hard to become leaders.”

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Caption: The 2013-2014 William Floyd High School NJROTC Commissioned Officers in front of the Old Mastic House at the William Floyd Estate. Standing from left to right are: Matt Gregory, Cody Farrell, Jorge Gonzalez, Brian Jackson, Danielle Tartaglione, Christian Erazo, Chris Monaco, Bobby Vecchio and John O’Connor. Kneeling and holding the William Floyd Guidon is Alex Hughes.