Photo by Mike Wilson Lt. Scott Hankinson, Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy Fall Kick-Off coordinator for Tactical Aircraft Programs PEO(T), gives a tour of a C-2A Greyhound (E-2D Advanced Hawkeye) aircraft in Hangar 306 during the event.

PEO (T) and Leonard Hall have enjoyed a relationship for almost 10 years, and the Fall Kick-Off is one of many annual programs the team puts together for the students.

‘‘We, at Patuxent Naval Air Station, have a long, prosperous relationship with Leonard Hall, and we thank them for allowing us to be a part of such a wonderful program,” said Rear. Adm. W. Mark Skinner, PEO (T) commander.

During their visit, the students were greeted by Skinner and talked with with members of PEO (T) to get a better understanding of the PEO (T) mission.

‘‘I like coming to the base because the people here have a lot to talk to us about,” said Don Coleman, a senior and battalion commander at Leonard Hall. ‘‘It is really nice that they take time out to talk with us and let us visit.”

At the kick off, Skinner answered a multitude of questions from the students, who asked him about everything from what position he played in baseball to his flying career.

‘‘We have a wealth of technology here for you to see, and the people who developed and designed this technology laid the foundation for their accomplishments when they were your age,” said Skinner. They did it, and you can do it too.”

The PEO (T) partnership with Leonard Hall is part of the U.S. Navy’s Adopt-A-School Program. The mission of this partnership is to promote volunteerism and community service to assist in the education and enrichment of the nation’s youth and communities while revitalizing citizenry.

Some ways PEO (T) accomplishes this mission is by hosting uniform drives for the school, providing lectures for academy events and mentors for the students.

‘‘Members of PEO (T) are always willing to talk to individual students and offer feedback, which is a great contribution that we wouldn’t have with out PEO (T),” said Suzanne C. Wisnieski, Leonard Hall’s headmistress. The relationship we have built with PEO (T) helps the Leonard Hall program get stronger every year.

The Sailors, Marines and civilians here value our partnership with the academy and are committed to assisting the students on their journey to success, said Skinner. ‘‘I thank you for allowing the Patuxent family be part of the academy’s extended family.”