Wasilla AFJROTC winding down first year

WASILLA — Wasilla High School’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) is nearing completion of its first year of activation with a strong enrollment and numerous notable achievements.

The AFJROTC mission is: “Develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community.” The cadet corps is comprised of students in grades nine through 12 and will finish the school year with 105 students. The early numbers for next year indicate 87 are signed up, so there is room for about 35 more motivated individuals.

The first-year curriculum consists of aviation history, military customs and courtesies, wear of the uniform and appearance, drill and leadership, and physical fitness and wellness. Students are also afforded the opportunity to hold staff positions, positions of higher rank and responsibility.

In the corps, which is set up as a 36-person group command with a command staff, there is also an operations squadron and a support squadron. This command structure gives cadets numerous opportunities to apply leadership and teamwork principles in the cadet-run corps. Most decisions that will impact cadets are made by higher-ranking student officers with minimal instructor intervention. One of the tasks assigned to the staff is goal setting for the entire corps.

The cadets volunteered more than 1,000 hours of their time serving the school and community, including Adopt-A-Highway in front of the high school on Bogard Road from N. Crusey Street to Wasilla-Fishhook Road. Additionally, they conducted two fundraisers for the Wasilla Kids in Need program and raised more than $1,100.

Another unique aspect of the program is the extra-curricular activities available to those enrolled in AFJROTC that have the desire to be a part of something more. The most notable and challenging ECA is the drill team.

This team is led by the drill team commander who guides a 12-person formation during a 46-step drill routine. Wasilla’s first-year drill team placed in the top three in all three competitions they entered this year with a third-place finish in the Alaska state competition held at Service High School in February.

The cadets also rapidly stood up a color guard and saber team for the homecoming football game in September. Since then, the color guard has performed 22 more times for the school and community, and the saber team created the arch for prom royalty.

Other competitions included the two-day Raider Decathlon at JBER where the 12-person team took second place and the WACKO competition (seven events) where a 20-person team placed third. In October, 115 students made the trip to JBER for Curriculum-In-Action, where they received a tour of the F-22 Raptor up close and the static aircraft at Heritage Park.

Upcoming events include the five-day Summer Leadership School in Seward May 27-31 for a half credit, and the startup of the air rifle team in September that will compete in postal matches against cadets around the world. Students looking for a dynamic, challenging and rewarding course during their high school days should check out the website http://tinyurl.com/c3n5w39 and talk to their counselor.