By Dr. Ferrell Miller
The annual donation to Junction City High School’s JROTC program was presented at the club’s February 21 meeting held at Jim Clark’s Chevrolet. LTC Richard Hodgson, Cadets Dillon Todd and Jordis Serrano received the $200.00 donation.
LTC Hodgson shared with club members that “the mission of the JCHS JROTC program is to motivate youth to be better citizens and not recruit them for the US Army.”
He has been with the local high school’s program for 12 years following his retirement from the Army. “Currently there are 130 cadets enrolled”. Both Cadets Todd and Serrano are members of the three time nationally recognized Raiders Team, trained by SGT Ted Ehlers.
Cadet Serrano told the group that “Raiders members are constantly conditioning themselves for competition. Their day begins as early as 0630. Team members run a 5K every day and do other condition preparation for competitive events like an obstacle course, gauntlet, a physical team test, rope bridge and cross-country rescue. Many of these events require cadets to carry a ruck sack on their back or shoulder during the event. Conditioning is relentless”, she said.
Cadet Todd said “teams are made up of 8 cadets with 2 alternates. Team members are identified to participate in events based upon their skill levels”. LTC Hodgson added that “no cadet sits on the bench. If a cadet has a desire to participate and compete, they will get the opportunity”.
Cadet Jordis Serrano plans to attend either Kansas University or Kansas State University to become a baker or chef following high school graduation. Cadet Dillon Todd has plans of attending KSU and participating in the Air Force ROTC with aspirations of becoming a social worker or some field of aviation.
The JC Breakfast Optimist Club makes a annual donation $200.00 to the JCHS JROTC program to assist them in achieving their goals.