Choctaw High School’s Jeremiah Navarro was recently honored with the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Scholarship (NROTC), presented to him by SSgt Fabian Salas, SSgt John Luna, Capt Daniel Donlon, 2nd Lt Taylor Todd, and 2nd Lt Diane Garcia of the United States Marine Corps. Capt Donlon is the Executive Officer for Marine Corps Recruiting Station Oklahoma City and presented Navarro with his scholarship at Choctaw High School.
Navarro said it is an honor to be selected for the scholarship.
“It is an honor to receive this award. This scholarship allows me to become the first Commissioned Officer in a long line of Non-Commissioned Officers in my family. Also, this scholarship allows me to attend college worry free about paying for tuition.”
The criteria for the NROTC scholarship is a tough one, but Navarro exceled in all areas making him a standout candidate.
“My whole life I’ve wanted to be a Devil Dog and getting the chance to earn a college degree tuition free makes it that much sweeter,” said Navarro. “I come from a long line of service members but most are/were soldiers in the U.S. Army and I feel obligated to serve my country proudly as well. Ever since I can remember I have wanted to be in the military. I have journals from when I was younger of me stating that I wanted to be a Marine or an Army soldier and even pictures of me in a uniform. My father is a Command Sergeant Major in the Army, so I have big shoes to fill, but my parents have always challenged me to exceed standards and achieve more than they have. Commissioning as a Marine is an example of achieving higher standards.”
Navarro said he would like to make his service to the country a career.
“I want to serve as a pilot, fighter pilot ideally,” said Navarro.
Also a member of the National Honor Society, and serving as secretary for National Technical Honor Society, Navarro has the skill set and the aptitude to excel in any career field with the Marines.
His physical fitness comes from his involvement in Choctaw athletics. Navarro played football, baseball and wrestled up to his sophomore year. Now Navarro is focused on baseball and academics.
Away from school and athletics, Navarro enjoys working on his 2000 Ford Mustang GT and being a member of a local car club.
Congratulations to Jeremiah Navarro for his selection as the NROTC scholarship recipient and for his future service to the United States of America and the United States Marine Corps.
