A few weeks ago, some of Pat-Med’s Air Force JROTC students visited Oregon, Saxton, and South Ocean to present the class to prospective cadets.
During each middle school’s PE class period, a select group of cadets from the high school spoke to the 8th graders about choosing JROTC as one of their electives for the upcoming school year.
Instructor Major Francolini began by presenting to the kids slides, pictures, and information about the activities/curriculum students would have. He spoke about some of the benefits of the program, such as leadership skills development, camaraderie, financial literacy, knowledge of modern aviation and aviation history, as well as the opportunity for cadets to apply to earn their pilot’s license in their junior year, free of charge.
The cadets then each had a chance to speak about the program from their perspective, connecting with the kids about what they’ve enjoyed the most each semester. They shared their personal experiences in the program, why they joined, what they’ve gotten out of it, and what they plan on doing in the future.
Freshman cadet Sydney Champlin spoke about the teamwork she’s built with her classmates in only half a year in the class. Second year Ryan Maravilla shared with students his reason for joining the program, a friend in uniform who regularly exhibited proper grooming standards and wear. He also brought up his participation in afterschool activities through AFJROTC, such as the Model Rocketry STEM program.
Once Major Francolini and the students completed the presentation, cadets showcased their abilities with drill rifles, spinning and maneuvering them, as well as giving the middle school students a chance to try.
Unit NY-093 Deputy Commander Hope Gogarty shares that it’s especially important to reach out to the middle schools for recruiting because “it’s easier to recruit students that are just entering the high school rather than those who’ve already found ‘their place.'”
AFJROTC can be a chance for many new students to reach outside of their comfort zone and take a class that sparks passions they may not have known about.
“We can introduce them to some scholarships, lessons, and things they don’t know yet,” says Cadet Captain Nikolas Tsongas about the recruiting trips.
The transition from middle school to high school isn’t an easy one for most students; so choosing an elective that exposes them to new subjects, kids of many grades, and leadership opportunities is a great learning experience for them as they get older.
