Nary takes over PVHS JROTC program

“To motivate young people to become better citizens” is the official motto of the Pahrump Valley High School’s JROTC program. This year the program is under new leadership.

Lt. Col. Patrick Nary began serving in the U.S. Army back in 1981.

He started out as an air traffic controller working with the U.S. Army’s National Guard 1022nd Medevac Unit, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Nary assumed his new position early this summer after longtime JROTC commander Lt. Col. James Hein announced his plans to retire last June.

He said first and foremost among his duties is instilling leadership skills to the more than 230 students now enrolled in the program.

“I want to teach them how to go forth in the world. In the old days, it was training them to become military personnel. Now, we may have about three or four students that will actually join the military. Other than that, for the most part, they are all college bound,” he said.

Nary noted that not only does he not get discouraged that only a small portion decide to enlist in the military, he actually advises them once they decide.

He also said that there are some who will attend college and then decide to enter the military after graduating.

“There are numerous four-, three- or two-year scholarships that they can go in on. Having worked with recruiting for 10 years in the army, and knowing the ins and outs, I’m working our kids if they want to go to college because there’s no reason they can’t go to college. There’s so much funding out there with scholarships and grants, they can go to school and get a degree and come on active duty as an officer,” he said.

The army officer also said that the responsibility of training the next generation of leaders can create some pressure from time to time as he has implemented additional curriculum for their benefit this year.

“I try to get them to think outside the box and not the norm. One of the things I’ve instituted this year is ‘World News Monday.’ When I ask them questions about what’s going on in the world, they just know Pahrump. I tell them it’s important to know what’s going on in Pahrump as well, but they also need to know what’s going on in the world. When you step out to become a leader in the world, you really have to know what’s going on in the world,” he said.

Additionally, Nary said students who will never enter the military, can also take advantage of the program.

“This is a great class and a lot of students use it because it’s scheduled as a physical education class. The reality of it is the program gives them much more than that. Yes, we do P.E., but we also teach them military traits that are very valuable in the civilian world,” he said.

The commander also said though he still controls the overall JROTC program, it is the students themselves who oversee much of the day-to-day activities.

“As I have told the leadership here, this is a cadet-run battalion because I have already commanded. Master Sgt. Smith has done his command and we are advisers helping them to run the battalion. Will they fall a little bit? Yes, but they will learn from their mistakes,” he said.

Nary, who is still a Las Vegas resident said he is very familiar with the Pahrump Valley after making frequent visits in the past.

“I know Pahrump very well unlike most people in Las Vegas who know where Pahrump is but have never been here. Right now we are living in Vegas and depending on where my wife, who works HR, gets a job, will determine where we will ultimately decide to live,” he said.

After many military tours across the Middle East region, Nary and family settled in Nevada roughly four years ago.

The lieutenant colonel is also fluent in the Arabic language, which he said was quite a challenge when he first began learning the ancient tongue.

“When you are 45 years old and you’re learning Arabic while sitting next to an 18-year-old kid, it can be difficult and almost intimidating. It was enjoyable, but it was hard. It was an 18-month curriculum,” he said.

Nary also provided his thoughts on the recent events in the Middle East where two American journalists were brutally beheaded by an Islamic State militant group.

“As a civilian, it is terrifying to watch. As I have told the kids, if you look at the Koran and look at the culture that goes with it, it give you a better understanding of what’s happening over there,” he said.