JROTC
The Air Force Junior Reserves Officers Training
Core gives students a chance at excellence
J
ROTC values numerous core values
such as confidence, teamwork, and
leadership. JROTC is a cooperative,
inclusive group that respects and includes
people of all backgrounds.
Leader of JROTC, Master Sergeant
Micheal McCrea speaks on this
inclusiveness. “We have kids that play all
different types of sports, we have honors
students, we have students that barely
make it by, but despite their differences,
they all get together and do the same thing
and go toward the same goal. In our classes
and outside our classes we support each
other.” McCrea said.
Like other classes at TC Roberson,
JROTC provides students with knowledge
and skills that are essential tools to have.
“People can learn a lot of leadership skills,
learn how to be a part of a team, and learn
how to be a part of something bigger than
themselves, and I think one of the big
things that people come in here and learn
is humility. And that yes you can be very
strong and important by yourself but if you
are with a group of people that are like-
minded you can be even stronger,” McCrea
said.
JROTC student Elyse Cedeno shares
important values learned in the classroom.
“A lifelong value that I’ve learned from this
class is hands down respect. Whenever I
first joined I wasn’t the best that I could
be but I definitely learned how to respect
others even when they aren’t the best
people,” said Cedeno.
JROTC student Corbyn Todd
emphasizes their favorite aspect of the
class. “The family aspect that we all have
together and how much Colonel and
Sergeant will support you no matter what
is my favorite thing about JROTC,” said
Todd.
JROTC not only provides students with
important core values to use throughout
high school but also makes students feel
better prepared for their future after high
school. “One thing I tell the kids that join
JROTC is that I don’t care what you do
after high school just be the best you can
be at it. I don’t care if you drive a garbage
truck, be the best garbage truck driver out
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there. Every job out there is important,”
McCrea said. Lessons like public speaking
are also taught in the classroom. “We do a
lot of public speaking practice and get to
learn how to speak confidently in front of a
class and not get nervous,” Cedeno said.
McCrea describes what an average day
looks like in the JROTC classroom.
“Before every class, we say the pledge of
allegiance and whoever our student leader
is inside the class or our class commander
will go through everything that is coming
up on our calendar, whether we have color
guard coming up or any field trips coming
up, or if we need any volunteers for things
and stuff like that. And then we get into
class. On Mondays and Tuesdays, we do
academics which would be anything from
the aerospace science unit to the space and
cyber security units. We are going into
the science of flight which will teach the
kids about aerodynamics and how planes
fly. Then there is my part of leadership
and we talk about everything from how to
wear their uniform properly to being good
citizens. We also talk about budgeting,
what it’s like when you are going into
college, and all kinds of life skills,” McCrea
said.
Cedeno shares her favorite class activity.
“I think my favorite weekly lesson is a
“what would you do in this situation”
lesson,” said Cedeno.
There are many misconceptions
surrounding JROTC. Some of these
misconceptions include the idea that the
class is a recruiting tool for the military
and focus all on discipline and structure.
While JROTC values discipline and
structure, it is not what the class is all
about. “Colonel Bell and I as instructors
encourage someone if they say they are
interested in joining the military but that’s
totally up to them. Less than 5% of the
kids that take JROTC go into the military,”
McCrea said.
Misconceptions like that JROTC is all
discipline are far from the truth. This is
explained by JROTC’s fellow students.
“JROTC is not strict on everything, we
have flexibility in here and like to have
fun,” Todd said. “JROTC is not really a
military-oriented class, like yes we talk
about the military and learn about it but
like I am not planning on joining the
military,” Cedeno said.
The JROTC team contributes to our
school and local area in many ways. At the
school level JROTC performs the color
guards at our own football and basketball
games. “The color guards that we do for
football and basketball games are very
successful,” McCrea said.
Many students in the class agree. “The
color guards and the community service
activities are my personal favorites,” Todd
said.
In our local area JROTC leaves its
mark through community service. “We
have also been adopting a highway out
of Overlook Drive and we have been
doing that for 25 years. Our unit itself
has been here for 41 years. Some of the
stuff that is really successful that we do is
our drill teams and community service
like the wreaths across America that we
do at Christmas time up at the veterans’
cemetery up in Black Mountain. We will
also go do a presentation at 2 different
retirement homes for veterans day coming
up next week,” McCrea explains. It is clear
that the impact that JROTC makes on our
community is one of great success. “We
value our community involvement which
is our biggest success.” McCrea says.
Even outside of our local community,
JROTC leaves its mark. “My favorite out-
of-class activity is most definitely drill
team because we get to go out of state to
competitions and come back with a trophy.
We practice hard but we have fun,” Cedeno
said.
McCrea explains how JROTC always
has a place for everyone interested in
joining. “One of the things always tell
people is I don’t care who you are, I don’t
care where you come from, I don’t care
who your friend is, I don’t care what
group you belong to, If you want to learn
leadership and learn some structure we are
the place for you and we always have room
for everybody.”
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