Students visit SJ; say JROTC changes lives

  • Published
  • By Robin DeMark
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  When poor performing students make their own decision to change, they quickly learn anything they want is within their reach.

More than 70 students from North Edgecombe County High School Army JROTC visited Seymour Johnson Air Force Base to experience Air Force life and its careers Sept. 17. These school field trips often help reinforce what students are learning in the classroom and serve as a motivation for change.

"I never thought I'd like JROTC. This trip is a great experience; it's like the one we took to Washington, D.C.; we see and learn so much," said Cadet Capt. Patricia Carter. "My plans are to stay in the program and continue to learn how to be a great leader and a better person."

Throughout the day, cadets watched a military working dog demonstration, learned about the F-15E Strike Eagle and wing flying operations. At each stop on the tour, students observed young Airmen working together as a team and paying attention to detail to accomplish their work. For some students, the tour reminded them of their personal JROTC experiences in leadership labs and summer camp.

"When I went to military summer camp I wanted to quit and go home. By day seven, I completed an obstacle course, swimming, rope bridge and repelled from a 50-foot wall - it was challenging and fun," said Cadet Capt. Tierra Powell. "I see how the Air Force is that way too, you keep learning new things."

Warrior Battalion Commander T'Keyah Perkins is in her fourth year of JROTC.

"Everything at this base is very precise and everyone is very disciplined. It reminds me of watching my first military drill and marching practice, it's what got me interested in JROTC," Cadet Commander Perkins said. "I used to have poor grades and bad friends. In JROTC, my GPA is 3.9 and my friends are high performers."

For Maj. Melvin Davis, an aerospace science instructor, these trips are just part of a cadet's education process. Learning outside of the classroom provides another opportunity for mentorship.

Cadet Jose Gloria explains how taking the time to reflect on his past and where he wants to be in the future changed his life.

"The Major taught me about what Jesus would do, made me stand on my own and teach others how to be good," Cadet Gloria said. "Two years ago I was a bad student who got mad about taking orders. I had bad grades and would hang out with the wrong crowd. JROTC classes taught me how to improve my mind and strengthen my body. Now I'm more trustworthy to myself and others. My grades are As and Bs. I want to stay in as long as I can. Everything I've seen here (at Seymour Johnson AFB) lets me know it's the right decision."

According to Major Davis, mentoring students takes time and patience, but often his most difficult challenge is getting parents to see their child's real potential.

"Getting parents to accept that their children can achieve more than they have is often very hard to do. Parents must try to understand that opportunities for their children are unlimited. That's why we take field trips, so youth can see there's so much out there for them," he said. "In this program, youth make the decision to change and desire something more because of what they've experienced and learned. JROTC gives them the tools they need to be successful and accomplish anything they want to now and later as adults. They learned how to change their behavior, change their mind, and change their life."

North Edgecombe has a student population of 453 students; 123 of these students are enrolled in the schools JROTC program.

For more information about the JROTC Adopt A School Program or military summer camps for students, visit www.goarmy.com/jrotc or www.jrotcsummercamps.com.