They stand tall, shoulders squared, eyes focused. Discipline and dedication radiate from their formation. This isn’t a scene from a military base, but from the hallways of the school where the JROTC program is quietly building leaders, one drill move and one service project at a time.
“We are incredibly proud of our cadets,” Sgt. Christopher Bell said. “They have worked tirelessly to prepare for this competition, and their success is a direct result of their commitment and teamwork.”
The AFJROTC cadets had an absolutely phenomenal day at the Oak Ridge High School’s Iron Eagle Classic on Saturday, Oct. 19. The team brought home a staggering eight trophies after a day of intense competition against 14 other Houston area JROTC units.
“During the competitions it’s a lot of drill and stuff but with that it’s actually pretty fun and interesting,” junior Kole Fisher said. “I do tell myself that practice is key, so I’m glad that we all practice as much as we do.”
The cadets dominated in academics, taking home the first place trophy for their impressive knowledge and skills. They also soared to victory in the Aerial Drones competition, showcasing their technical prowess and strategic thinking.
“I knew the real blood, sweat, and tears we had put into these eight-hour practices over fall break hadn’t been for nothing,” junior Riley Jones said. “I was very proud of my team commanders for leading their teams to victory, once again.”
The team’s physical strength and teamwork were on full display as they secured second place in the Tug of War and third place in the Dirty Decathlon, a grueling physical training event. Their dedication to precision and discipline earned them third place in the 30 Commands Basic competition.
“The program helps teenagers gain character attributes, leadership, and life skills they can apply in their education, career, and life,” junior Michael Belcher said. “Cadets often report that JROTC helped them gain the ‘grit,’ determination, and tenacity to hit their goals.”
The cadets’ hard work and dedication also earned them second place overall in the competition, a testament to their well-rounded abilities.
“Being in JROTC has helped me grow as a person by pushing me out of my comfort zone. When I first joined the program, I was extremely closed off, only talking to some of the people I shared the class period with and now I’m in charge of the program,” senior Christopher Aleman said. “These past four years have taught me how to be more responsible and how to pay attention to the small details, while also looking at the bigger picture, I’ve also had to learn to trust others, something I never would’ve done before joining the program and I liked to work on my own and never accepted help or advice but now I know how necessary both of those are also I am grateful to those who taught me these things.”
The AFJROTC team’s impressive performance at the Iron Eagle Classic is a testament to their dedication, hard work and unwavering spirit. They have proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with, and everyone can’t wait to see what they achieve in the future!
“The lessons I’ve found most applicable in AFJROTC are about leadership, communication and life skills.” junior Natalie Bazan said.
Often overlooked amidst the buzz of sports and clubs, the JROTC cadets are a force to be reckoned with. Their recent performance at the competition is a testament to their hard work and commitment. The team secured the eight awards against tough competition, showcasing their skills in teamwork, knowledge, and many other things.
“At the end of the competition when all the trophies started coming out I started to get light headed because of the amount of screaming that I was doing,” junior Sophia Hernandez said. “It was such a fun experience and it surprised me how good every team did, so I’m really proud.”
