By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
Feb. 23, 2011

Trophies and plaques line the classroom walls of Northeast High School’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC).

It’s evident these JROTC members mean business. But, it’s not all about trophies and plaques.

“We try to instill in them the things that will make them good citizens,” said Col. Sgt. Richard Hilliard, who leads the program with Sgt. 1st Class Jerry Lewis. “One of our approaches we use is talking about the seven (U.S.) Army values. It’s loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

“We think if you can absorb those army values, you’ll be a good citizen. That translates into being a good father, a good husband, a good wife. It’s makes you an all-around better person.”

Currently, 125 students, freshmen through seniors, are enrolled.

“We cover so many things,” Hilliard said.

In addition to physical training, students perform community service projects and learn about American government, writing, geography, first aid, among other subjects.

JROTC tries to coordinate academic subjects with current events, Hilliard said.

For example, this month is “healthy heart month,” so in addition to learning about heart health, the JROTC members are also hosting a blood drive at the school.

Once a week there’s uniform inspection day and several days a week, students participate in leadership labs.

Extracurricular activities include color guard, regulation drill team, exhibition drill team, academic team and marchmanship team.

“The biggest thing ROTC does for students is it gives them structure,” Lewis said. “It helps remove any crutches and gives them desires and goals.”

A student’s perspective

During his sophomore year, the school office automatically added JROTC to Aaron Williams’ class schedule.

“I actually wanted to get out because I was in fear of the discipline and the pushups,” Cadet Capt. Williams, now a senior, said. “Once I started, there was an instructor named Sgt. Jackson. He related to me. He made you feel like more than just an individual with a uniform. He taught you how to function as a company…

“I take pride in wearing the (JRTOC) uniform. I take pride in being a JROTC cadet.

“I reach out to other people and tell them to join, so they can experience what I experienced.”

First Sgt. Gregory Gutierrez, a sophomore, said the program is like a second family.

“I just like the opportunities and places that it takes us in life. It just takes us to places we would have never thought of going,” Gutierrez said in reference to their competitions across the U.S. and state.

“We’ve won overall in the district the past six years,” Williams added. “We have every banner down there to prove it. We’re very highly disciplined.”

Sgt. 1st Class Reina Mejia was recruited by her friend, Gutierrez, to join JROTC this year and has already joined the unarmed drill team, her favorite aspect.

“After awhile I really started to see what ROTC is about and I really started to like it,” she said. “Now, I tell everybody it’s a really good class and you learn a lot from it.”

“Something I’ll always take with me is that it has made me a better person, and that’s the mission,” Williams said. “They can say mission accomplished.

“I’ve learned seven of the army values… You learn to relate to people, you learn to work as a team and you learn to look at the bigger picture.

“The seven army values – combine them with your personality and you’re ready to take on the world.”

Standing proud. Pictured from left to right are Northeast High School’s JROTC members Gregory Gutierrez, Aaron Williams and Reina Mejia. Leslie Collins