The Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Parents’ Night is a showcase of the skills that a cadet learns through the various extracurricular activities the program has to offer. There are performances for every extracurricular team including the Color Guard which presents the “colors” or flags for the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem, parades, performances, and other activities. The drill teams also perform to show off their skills that they’ve practiced for so long beforehand.  This night is one to remember for everyone involved — parents, cadets, and instructors alike all come together to recognize everyone’s hard work.

The event from this year was spectacular, there were ninety-one cadets in attendance with their family members. The event took place on November 22^nd at 7:00pm; this is a night many of the senior cadets will always remember even as they progress through their college lives and beyond. Several of the cadets were stricken with many emotions during the program as retired US Air Force Colonel Robert Atkinson, one of the instructors alongside Master Sergeant Joseph Picone, had announced his retirement at the end of this school year.

The AFJROTC program has many opportunities for young cadets going through their high school careers. Some of the examples of the activities include the Armed Drill extracurricular activity where cadets implement both rifle techniques, such as spins and more complex maneuvers, and standard military procedures, such as salutes and commands. During the 30 Drill extracurricular activity cadets use the marching techniques they’ve learned to form routines based on the 30 drill marching techniques that they must know to succeed in the program. On top of extracurricular activities, the AFJROTC teaches leadership, basic military courtesies and traditions, such as salutes and ranks, as well as aviation history and aviation physiology.