Students representing the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Program at Bloom Township High School recently visited CHSD170's Washington-McKinley School and presented a program in armed and unarmed exhibitions to the school's junior high students.
Bloom's JROTC Program is under the daily instructional leadership of Naval Science Instructors LT Stacy L. Henderson-Shaw, USN (Retired), and Master Chief Richard Blaschuk, USN (Retired).
The program's Armed and Unarmed Exhibition Teams performed a series of maneuvers demonstrating complex marching sequences that displayed both teamwork and the self-discipline of the team members.
"It was great to see Bloom's JROTC here at Washington-McKinley," said Dawnielle Smith, Wahington-McKinley's Dean of Students.
It is a tradition that the JROTC Program began when I was a student, and it was beautiful to be able to introduce the exhibition to our junior high students."
Mark Anderson, a Physical Education teacher at the school, echoed Smith's words in discussing the program.
"We were honored to have Bloom's Navy JROTC Drill team perform for our junior-high students and introduce them to a program that they will have the opportunity to join when they attend Bloom High School," he said.
The Armed Exhibition Team members were: Victor Thomas, Jr. (Team Commander), Austin Jackson, Joanna Rendon, and Angel Anaya.
The Unarmed Exhibition Team members were Ashley Gamero (Team Commander), Amari Taylor, Perla Islas, and Jaylene Lujano.
The goal of Navy JROTC is to instill in students the skills necessary for citizenship development. They engage in school and community service, physical fitness programs, gain an in-depth knowledge of military history, and adhere to specific personal grooming standards.
The cadets compete in drill competitions throughout the year, and in Basic Leadership Training Mini-Boot Camps during the summer. These training programs develop the cadets' leadership and managerial skills.
Cadets also compete on academic teams and vie for scholarships and national awards, all of which will benefit them throughout their lives.
Navy JROTC is not a recruiting venture, but it is one that focuses on teamwork, responsibility, leadership and citizenship development.