North Carolina ROTC Roundtable brings together 150 cadets for leadership and service development

Raleigh, N.C. - Around 150 ROTC and JROTC cadets gathered at North Carolina State University last Friday (March 27th, 2026) for the 6th Annual North Carolina ROTC Roundtable 2026, an event organized by the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NCDMVA).

"You are part of our proud tradition in North Carolina," Governor Josh Stein told the cadets in his welcome video. "We are home to more than 90,000 active-duty military personnel, the fourth most of any state in the country. Over the past year, I've been proud to sign into law four different bills to support our service members and veterans because when you succeed, we all succeed. North Carolina's future is shaped by leaders like you who are willing to put service above self."

This annual roundtable gives ROTC and JROTC cadets a unique opportunity to learn directly from military leaders-gaining insight from their missions, experiences, and journeys of leadership, discipline, and service. These exchanges help shape the next generation by reinforcing pathways to future service, personal responsibility and development, and a strong sense of accomplishment.

"This roundtable offers something truly unique, you hear from the senior leaders, participate in hand-on training and connect with others who share your passion of services. You exchange ideas, learn best practices and build partnership that strengthen not just the individual program but the entire network of leadership development across North Carolina," said NCDMVA Secretary Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette. "My hope of each of you is that one day you will have some mentors impact your life, maybe one of our distinguished panelists will say something today that leaves a lasting impact on you."

This year's distinguished panelists at the roundtable included Marine Corps Installations East- Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Deputy Commander Colonel Gregory Pace; Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Colonel Chad Mixon; Colonel Henry Mitnaul, U.S. Air Force (Retired); and Brigadier General Arnold Gordon-Bray, U.S. Army (Retired).