“I wanted to be a part of the MAST legacy at the Leadership Academy,” said Nicholas Billows of Oakhurst, explaining why he applied for, passed and attended the rigorous two weeks of leadership training at Newport Naval Base in Rhode Island last month.
Not only did this rising junior become a part of MAST legacy as one of 13 students from the Marine Academy of Science and Technology who attended this year, and one of the more than 120 students from nine states who also earned entry into the prestigious leadership academy, he came home carrying the Distinguished Graduate award for overall performance.
The cadet who receives this highest honor is determined by individual achievement in leadership, drill, academics, and sailing to create an overall score.
“I am honored to have received the award this year from the Officer in Charge,” Billows said.
The son of Lori and Gregory Billows, and younger brother of his sister Adrienne, Nicholas has achieved in numerous ways in a variety of fields before receiving this latest honor.
He is a participating member of the Greek Orthodox Youth Association (GOYA) at the family’s long-time parish, St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Ocean Township.
The GOYA program has changed his life, the student said, since he first became active in GOYA when he was in 7th grade at Ocean Township Elementary School.
He volunteers behind the altar, and participates extensively in religious services, Sunday School, and volunteer opportunities. Besides the religious and educational aspects the program offers, GOYA has also given Nicholas the opportunity to meet GOYA members, many of whom are now close friends and come from all over the state, including at MAST, he smiles.
He also speaks some Greek, but admits, “not very much. I would like to learn more, as some family members and many of my friends can speak it.”
In addition to church activities, Nicholas was Cadet of the Quarter for the fourth marking period in the 2022-2023 school year, and recently received a varsity letter in Ocean Township High School Track and Field where he ran the 400 and 800 meter events and competed in prestigious races including the Penn Relays.
He is the current Scout of the Year in Boy Scout Troop 70 of Oakhurst, where he is a Life Scout looking to earn his Eagle award.
Nicholas, who is an honor student at MAST, said when he first heard of the high school on Sandy Hook, he was not certain he wanted to attend, since he thought attendance in the school in which all students are also in the NJROTC meant he would have to serve in the Navy.
He envisioned MAST as “a daily boot camp.” “I was definitely wrong on both of those fronts. I eventually chose MAST for the focus on marine science, and the ability to go on the research vessel, The Blue Sea.”
When it came to applying for the leadership academy in March, Nicholas said he wanted to do that as well, since he is now in a position of leadership at MAST. “I wanted a better understanding of how to reward, discipline, and train my subordinates because I think that is vital in having a successful organization. The academy would also serve as a glimpse into the life of military service, which may possibly be my future career path.”
The two weeks were definitely an unforgettable experience, the cadet continued, knowing that in addition to everything he learned, it gave him the opportunity to see aspects of the NJROTC program from the cadets who attended from units from nine other states. “It provided us all with so many different ideas and opportunities to bring back to our home schools.
There were cadets attending from Maine to Maryland and each with something different to bring to the table.”
Admittedly, the entire two weeks was not easy, he concedes. The mental part of the program was more difficult than the physical because “it takes a lot of self-control to not take things to heart, and not let words weigh you down. At Leadership Academy, you are often subject to yelling and being on the receiving end of disciplining. In these situations one must remember why they are there and that this is all to improve us and teach us how to deal with stressful situations. “
He believes the MASTies were all thoroughly prepared for the physical part because of the dozens of physical fitness practices and workouts throughout the school year at Fort Hancock.
For Nicholas, sailing was the best part of the program at Newport. “I never thought I would have liked sailing, but I believe I excelled and enjoyed it very much. I had a great instructor and a stellar crew of three other cadets. I believe the sailboats were really a guise to provide a leadership lab for the cadets, and to teach us all how to stay calm and work through stressful situations, even in a sailboat. Communication was huge in being a good ship, and we worked very well together and became very close friends.”
The most difficult part of the program came when Nicholas was selected to be a company commander at the graduation ceremony. He had to learn an entire manual on the sword, he said, “almost immediately. He had learned the basics, he noted, but needed more than a basic understanding to participate in the sword drill at graduation. But still, “I read through all of the manual, and practiced with one other cadet from my platoon who had prior experience. The next day, I was proficient in using the sword and succeeded in keeping my billet as company commander.”
While every lesson was important during the rigorous training program, Nicholas said most important to himself was learning how to create relationships with people who were complete opposites.
“The Academy presented each cadet 120 opportunities, 120 other cadets, to befriend and learn from, just as much as we had learned from the instructors and aides.” Maybe learning from other cadets was not leadership training, he said, but “we taught each other how to build professional relationships, how to network, and how to compromise and communicate. I did not expect so much of the learning to take place inside the dormitories.”
The Newport academy also gave the MAST student a chance to see how his school compared to other schools across the northeast.
NJROTC programs in other schools were as small as 40 students, or as large as 800 students. He learned something from each of them he plans on bringing back to MAST.
He also learned that MAST is one of the most widely known programs in the area, and he feels fortunate to have as many opportunities as the Monmouth County school offers, many of which are not present at many other schools.
Overall, the program was fun, Nicholas said enthusiastically. That’s because the Naval Science Instructors, his peers, and past graduates present to help guide the cadets during the training program, were all vital in preparing them mentally and physically.
“Attending Leadership Academy was the best decision I have ever made. It was one of the best experiences of my life. If I ever get the opportunity to return, I will jump on it immediately “
Since wondering about going to MAST before he started, Nicholas has had several changes of heart. His favorite subject is now Naval Science, not necessarily because the class is so interesting, fun, and rewarding, but because of the other activities, including drill, academics, orienteering, joint leadership academic bowl (JLAB), and physical fitness. “Each provided us all with opportunities that would not be possible without the Naval Science program. This program has made me the person I am today and has given me friends and a community I will never forget.”
‘That being said, what are the bad parts of going to MAST? “I don’t have a least favorite class. This past year, every teacher I had loved to teach, and I felt that I learned so much from each of them. All teachers were always there to help, and be there for everyone. They make their classes interesting and fun, and they are always open to have conversations and learn from us as well.”
In his sophomore year at MAST, Nicholas was a member of the color guard, where he presented our Nation’s honors at community events, battalion formations, and competition drill meets.
He was promoted to the rank of Cadet Chief Petty Officer in May and will serve as the Blue Color Guard Commander for the 2024-2025 school year, working with a co-captain to take charge of the twelve cadets on the newly selected color guard.
“Cadet Billows is an incredible young man – a hard worker, a compassionate leader, and a true team player. I was so happy, but not surprised, to see him receive the Distinguished Graduate award at Leadership Academy. I look forward to seeing how he puts all that he learned at the Academy into practical application, both at MAST and in his life outside of school,” said Commander Tracie Smith-Yeoman, US Navy (retired), the Senior Naval Science Instructor at MAST.
And that student who wasn’t sure he’d like MAST because of his fear it could be daily boot camp? Now he is not only open to attend a service academy, “but more specifically, the United States Naval Academy, where I would like to commission as an officer in the Marine Corps.”
