One in four students at Cross Creek High School have something in common, and it makes their school unique.

They're all members of the Augusta school's Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program.

At 331 members strong, the program is the eighth-largest nationally and the largest in the Southeast this year, according to the NJROTC national program and Richmond County school officials. The school has about 1,300 students.

"We have a very strong family-type organization here in our unit," said Hannah Crouch, a Cross Creek senior who is a cadet captain on the group's drill, athletic and academic teams.

Hannah said having such a large NJROTC program makes for an interesting dynamic as members include everyone from cheerleaders to cross country teammates to band members.

"We have such a close-knit bond," she said, adding that the program appeals to many because it's a welcoming and safe atmosphere for students to learn leadership skills. She said the growth of the Cross Creek program also speaks volumes about its student base.

"We have well-rounded students," she said.

Cmdr. Johnathan Shaw, who is the program's senior instructor and served for 22 years as a nuclear submarine officer in the Navy, said it's been in the past two years that Cross Creek's cadet enrollment has exceeded that of the Academy of Richmond County.

The NJROTC program is in its 10th year at Cross Creek. The Navy requires a unit to maintain at least 100 cadets or 10 percent of its student body.

"In Richmond County, most of the JROTC units are battalion strength (more than 150 cadets)," Cmdr. Shaw said. "Cross Creek is a regiment and is comprised of two full battalions."

Since its creation, the Cross Creek group has ranked among the top of NJROTC programs in Georgia and northern Florida, consistently qualifying for regional championships in drill, air rifle and academics. For the past eight years, the cadets also have earned the Navy's highest award of Distinguished Unit with Academic Honors.

The group has given more than 6,000 hours annually to help local service organizations.

"After academics, community service is our next highest priority," Cmdr. Shaw said.

Cadet Markell Holliday, a freshman on the school's drill team who learned of NJROTC from his older sister's involvement, said another part of the Cross Creek program's success is that it's well run.

"We have good leaders," he said.

Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 828-3851 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com