A simple goal: ‘Inspire students’
Mariner steps down from ACHS Navy JROTC after 17 years
“It was (former Anderson County principal) Bob McCracken’s idea to start a JROTC program and he quickly found the person to lead it when Tommy was interviewed,” said Greg Deal, currently assistant director of Anderson County Schools and an assistant principal at the high school when Mariner joined the ACHS faculty in 2001.
“Bob believed starting a JROTC program would inspire students who could benefit from it. Tommy has had an impact on so many lives here over the years — both inside and outside the NJROTC — including strong support from all of the faculty. He was exactly the person needed to start and maintain the program.”
Mariner, a 22-year Naval aviator with combat service in the Persian Gulf War and off Beirut during his years in the Navy, was living in Norris and farming when he was named NJROTC commander. The rest is history.
“Some of the students who have joined the program over the years have occasionally not enjoyed NJROTC at the beginning, but in most cases they learned joining the Maverick Company is one of the best decisions they have made in high school,” said Mariner, a University of Tennessee graduate. “It helped give them focus and helped them make important decisions as they became adults. We owe much of our program success to strong support from the guidance counselors who encourage students to become cadets, and stick with the program even when they did not love it during the first weeks of the semester.”
A total of 1,073 cadets has served in the NJROTC at AC, and more than 200 eventually joined one of the branches of the U.S. military. Some of them have made the military a career.
“We have contributed individuals who are serving in Navy ships and submarines, Air Force squadrons, Army field hospitals and Marine Corps regimental combat teams in all branches of the military, including one who became a Navy SEAL,” Mariner said. “I am so proud of how so many of our students have decided to join the military and play
important roles in service to our nation.”
A number of cadets have chosen other ways to serve their communities, including careers in nursing, teaching, state park rangers and many other paths in part
inspired by their experience in NJROTC.
In addition to leading the Navy JROTC at AC, Mariner was also instrumental in helping pave the way for an Air Force JROTC unit at Clinton and the Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (a precursor to an NJROTC program) at Oak Ridge High School.
“I am so proud the Anderson County and Oak Ridge school boards decided to join us in establishing JROTC programs, and I was pleased to help in a small way to bring those programs about,” Mariner said.
Mariner has also assisted in providing activities for other JROTC
units. During the past 13 years, Mariner has managed a summer camp for
high school JROTC units from Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and a number
of other states.
“The cadets who attend this camp from around the country have learned
a lot from each other and strengthened every participating program,”
Mariner said. “That is an important aspect of the JROTC experience.”
During the past 17 years, the NJROTC unit at AC has presented the
colors at sporting events, community celebrations and a number of
parades in Clinton, Rocky Top, Oak Ridge, LaFollette and Knoxville.
In December 2016, the unit presented the colors during the Pearl
Harbor Memorial Parade in Honolulu to honor the victims of the
attack on Dec. 7, 1941.
“Our cadets represented the state of Tennessee, Anderson County and
our school well during that special trip as they always have,” Mariner
said. “Being at Pearl Harbor was a special event that moved our cadets
throughout their entire stay.”
AC Principal Ben Downs said Mariner has helped in so many ways at the
high school beyond his responsibilities as NJROTC commander.
“Tommy has even helped me with maintaining the bell schedule,” Downs
said. “Whenever we need assistance with something, Tommy is always
there to help. “Tommy is loved by everyone here and he will be missed.”
Mariner said the success of the NJROTC unit is not because of him.
Instead, he credits the 1,073 cadets, their parents’ support, the
enthusiasm of the ACHS faculty and the Anderson County community in
their strong association with the high school during the past 17
years.
“Many of our cadets were not sure what they got themselves into when
they entered the program, but most learned to love it and grow in so
many ways,” Mariner said. “It has been a joy to work with so many
cadets, students and the faculty here at Anderson County High School.
They have all helped to keep this program strong.”
Mariner said the program has a bright future.
“I know Chief Allen Davis, my 17-year associate in this NJROTC endeavor, and
my relief, retired Marine Corps Major J. T. Young, will continue and
improve the program into the future.”
