Military Tactics
JROTC cadets drill, lead, and serve

By Ana Ribero

They may look American. They may sound American. They may even think American. The cadets at the Florida Air Academy, however, are from all around the globe.

The Florida Air Academy Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFJROTC) troop has cadets from 26 different countries, including the United States.  The creative AFJROTC instructors make use of this situation to teach cadets the best ways to succeed in the globalized society of today. “The purpose [of JROTC] is to make [students] into better citizens for the world—not just for the U.S.,” says CMS Steve Hudacek, AFJROTC academy director.

Their motto—“A cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do so”—is strictly enforced and taught as a main value of good citizenship around the world. Another main value taught to this international troop is, “Service to others and service before self.” This honor unit takes its community service seriously. They participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program, Habitat for Humanity, Walk for Life, and other numerous volunteer activities.

“We’re very proud of our cadets as we send them off to their homes to spread what we’ve taught them here,” Hudacek says. With cadets from all around the world, the values taught to this troop will spread for thousands of miles.

Contact Hudacek at shudacek@flair.com or 321-723-3211 ext. 30020.

Beyond the call of duty
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe… well, not exactly. Annie Bell, 90, did live in very poor conditions. She didn’t have hot water or a kitchen sink. Her stove wasn’t working and most of the windows in her house were broken.

Fortunately for her, the AFJROTC at Sandalwood High School in Jacksonville had learned that lending a hand provides a great service to the community. “We found her about eight years ago in a little town called Boston, Georgia, and she was living in atrocious conditions,” says Col. James R. Brown, AFJROTC senior instructor. “We came back and talked to the cadets. We brought them pictures and they said, ‘Of course, we want to jump into this and help her.’”

The troop got involved in the “Annie Bell Project” as part of their extensive community service routine. They collected funds to buy and install a water heater and a kitchen sink for Bell’s home. They also got her an electric blanket and stocked her refrigerator with goodies. But this was only the beginning. The troop basically adopted Bell and has been helping her live comfortably for the past eight years. “There’s no telling how much money we’ve collected for her over the years. We go to see her once every couple of months to see what she needs,” Brown says.

“AFJROTC encourages its students to get involved in their local communities to produce well-informed and helpful citizens,” Brown says. “Our primary goal is to teach them how to be better citizens, so this teaches good citizenship and responsibility. It also teaches them to appreciate what they have.”

The Sandalwood troop also volunteers with the Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest national fundraiser, and collected $3,000 for charity goods annually for the past 10 years. In between helping the nation and helping the locals, Sandalwood AFJROTC placed second overall in the nation at the 2003 AFJROTC National Drill Championships in Washington, D.C. and were Florida’s drill and color guard champions for the 2002-03 school year.

Contact Brown at afjfl939@aol.com or 904-645-5100

History, JROTC Style
Can you picture what the colonial army looked like--their uniforms, muskets, and drums? Now, can you compare them to today’s army, clad in camouflage, carrying machine guns and riding tanks? Don’t worry—the Winter Springs High School JROTC is here to help.

The honor battalion has developed a patriotic performance—“A Tribute to America’s Spirit”—depicting the history of the military since the colonial days. “When everyone else is enjoying patriotic holidays, relaxing and partying, these cadets are working to recognize what their mothers and fathers, grandparents, and others have done to ensure our way of life,” says Lt. Col. John R. Bennett, senior JROTC army instructor. For this endeavor, cadets conducted extensive research on uniforms, equipment, and music of the military. Over the past three years, the cadets have collected authentic and reproduction uniforms and equipment used by the military throughout United States history.  They also look for paintings, pictures, and monuments that represent the period and then worked to make a “living” re-enactment of that selected item.

“Our curriculum teaches our students about American history because we believe it’ll make our cadets better prepared to be exemplary citizens,” says Sergeant First Class Victor O. Frasqueri, Army instructor.

Aside from their involvement in veterans’ affairs, the unit also donates 3,000 hours of community service every year to various organizations and has ranked in the top 10 drill teams in the nation for the past four years.

Contact Bennett at randy_bennett@scps.k12.fl.us and Frasqueri at victor_frasqueri@scps.k12.fl.us or 407-320-8805.

Copyright © 2006 Oxendine Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved