In my first year of high school, a certain elective caught my love and attention. This elective allows students opportunities to form bonds with the instructors and fellow students, while rehearsing drills late at night. It gives them something to do other than sleep or mindlessly scroll on social media. This elective does fun things during and after school. For example, they might play capture the flag one day, and then do hard drilling the next.

This is McDowell High School’s AFJROTC Program.

This class fills my every thought. I have no choice. Between commander calls for important and upcoming events, taking promotion and rope tests, and of course the optional activities, I think about ROTC even during the weekend.

If I am to make plans, ROTC required events come first. Now, while you may think that I am biased, after all, I wear that blue uniform every Wednesday, but it was the the upperclassmen cadets, even those without a staff position, who gave me a lot of encouragement and good words on the program. They made me want to get involved.

I remember when they came to our middle school, and we played a game called Drill Knockout, where you stand at attention, and try not to break your bearing (eyes forward, no shifting, no looking, just blinking and breathing) while Major and/or Sergeant did things to distract you.

In the first three weeks of school, I have reunited with old friends, made new ones, and formed bonds. ROTC is perfect for this, as it gives students a sense of self-respect and an idea on how to be more respectful of others.

It also helps students realize that the ties they have to certain people in their lives may not be so good. For example, I’ve stopped talking to a few of my friends when I realized I was blindly loyal to them, so much so that their actions became overlooked.

Now, loss doesn’t come without gains. I have met several other cadets in the program who have overcome the loss of a friend nearly fivefold. These friends, while older than me, a higher rank than me, and more experienced than me, treat me as an equal.

Sergeant’s son is in the corps, lovingly referred to as Pebble, and he doesn’t pride himself on that fact. He is reserved, and he expects punishment if he does something wrong just like any other cadet.

ROTC offers optional activities for those enrolled. As mentioned, there is late night Capture the Flag as well as Dining Out, a formal dinner where cadets dress up in full service uniforms to celebrate the groups achievement.

Now, you may be thinking, “That sounds fun, but I don’t want to join the military.” ROTC is a program made by the military, yes, but it is not a military recruitment program. You don’t have to join the military to participate, and very few students who are in ROTC actually join the military. The Corps prides itself on being able to, “develop citizens of character.” We want to build a better society, not soldiers.

So, dear reader, I ask you to please consider AFJROTC while you can.