By AL STOVER
Staff Reporter 

ML JROTC program helps prepare students for tomorrow

 

Last updated 5/8/2014 at 6:33pm

On Thursday mornings, the sound of marching can be heard from the Medical Lake High School gym. These are students in MLHS JROTC program and Thursday is "drill day".

ML's JROTC program is one of the few in eastern Washington that provides students with an aspect into the military.

Students in each class begin the session by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, with two leaders taking attendance. Col. Lyle Powell or CmSgt. Al McGowan handle the classroom instruction. In class, students learn aerospace, aviation history, aerospace and global awareness.

According to Powell, on "drill day,"students dress in their uniform - earning a grade - and work on marching with precision and following commands. In some classes, they will practice with the rifles.

During these practices, two different leaders will shout the commands. Powell said this forces them to be attentive to not only "what the next command is, but also who is calling it."


"Commander McGowan came up with that," Powell said. "I've never seen anything like it. It's pretty neat."

Students who are involved with the program's drill team practices every morning at 6:45 a.m.

The program recently received recognition from the Air Force two weeks ago when a retired colonel came to do an inspection of the 9 a.m. class. He observed the students practice their marching and watched as Powell and McGowan gave part of a lesson. The colonel gave the class exceeds standards.

In addition to the time in the classroom, students in JROTC participate in volunteering opportunities such as participating in community events like the Dollar For Scholars Yard Sale. The students will present the colors at the Memorial Day ceremony at the State Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, May 26.


Students like Jacob Dingfield - a wing leader who is in his first year in the program - have to balance the rest of their classes and their after school activities.

"Part of being a leader is doing stuff on your own time," Dingfield said. "You just gotta find the time and the balance. You have to sometimes give up the stuff you want to do."

Powell said the community has been supportive of the program.

"All of these people will thank them for what they are doing," Powell said. "That makes a difference in kids."

Although JROTC has several elements of the Air Force, Powell said the program is not for just students who plan to have careers in the military. The program also teaches skills to help students prepare for the future where they will be competing with "kids all over the world."

"We try to do as much as we can to give them the tools they need to succeed outside of the classroom," Powell said.

He added that the program attracts students from "all spectrums" and the instructors try to help them discover their talents.

"We got some kids that are awesome artists, so we try to incorporate a little art in our presentations because it showcases their talent," Powell said.

The program has helped students personally. For Holly Marsh, who joined the program after seeing a demonstration in middle school, she has boosted her confidence.

"I used to be really shy," Marsh said. "Now I can talk to people. I can lead a group."

Dingfield said JROTC has helped him become a leader and be active in the community.

"I'm volunteering for stuff that I normally wouldn't have volunteered for," Dingfield said. "I love how they've turned someone (myself) who wasn't a leader, into a leader."

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.

 

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