AIKEN --- With confident commands and sharp turns, the Midland Valley High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps passed in review Thursday.
The review gives ROTC programs a chance to shine, and passing is a reward for months and years of training.
Junior ROTC programs conduct a yearly review in which commanders and their cadets are graded on precision and perfection. Students begin training in the summer to make sure their presentation is flawless.
"You get really nervous out there in front of all your peers, but our unit has a lot of respect here," Ensign Heather Green said.
After three years with the NJROTC program at Midland Valley, Heather said what keeps her around are the relationships and community service she has been able to be a part of.
Since starting the program, she has gone on to join the drill team, led a platoon and trained freshmen.
"It's not as easy as it looks, but our unit works really hard throughout the year to make this day perfect," she said.
Of the 65 schools in Midland Valley's region, only about 10 have the entire student body, family and school staff attend the review.
"We are one of very few to bring the student body in because you have to ask 1,200 kids to sit still for 45 minutes," Navy Cmdr. Larry Schrade said.
While the student body looks on, ROTC cadets stand in perfect lines with shoulders back until it's time for the review.
Sophomore Jarrett Yount shined his shoes for two weeks in preparation for Thursday's ceremony, his mom, Melissa Arthur, said while watching from the crowd. Jarrett even carried his shoes in his hands Thursday to make sure a stray spot didn't mar the shiny leather.
"The only thing he's played with since he was little was GI Joes. His grandfather was in this program, so this is most of what he knows. It makes me proud and scared at the same time," she said. "This is a big deal to them. How they look, how they present themselves, even down to how their uniforms are ironed -- it's all inspected."
Reach Julia Sellers at (803) 648-1395, ext. 106, or julia.sellers@augustachronicle.com.
JROTC PROGRAM
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps started in 1916 as part of the National Defense Act. It is a federally funded program for high school students.
The purpose of all programs, as outlined by the Department of the Army, is:
- Developing good citizenship and patriotism.
- Developing self-reliance, leadership and responsiveness to constituted authority.
- Improving the ability to communicate well orally and in writing.
- Developing an appreciation for the importance of physical fitness.
- Increasing respect for the role of the U.S. armed forces in support of national objectives.
- Developing a knowledge of basic military skills.
All branches of the military except the Coast Guard participate in ROTC programs.
Sources: Army, Navy and Marine Corps ROTC, todaysmilitary.com
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