JROTC

SHS JROTC Color Guard performances span sports events, the Scotia Memorial Day Parade, Awards Nights, and Graduation. Glen Butler, Dylan Boyer, Michael Gonzalez, and Adam Williams earned Color Guard ribbons for their dedication in performing for the school and community. The cadets of the SHS AF JROTC unit are involved in community service throughout the year, community clean up, preparing Thanksgiving Baskets, assistance with cross country and track invitationals, Special Olympics, and SHS Fitness Day. Over the course of the 2007-2008 school year, our cadets donated 438 hours of service to our school and local community.

Two of our cadets took part in the Leadership Weekend at Norwich University in Vermont, spending their entire weekend on campus involved in physical fitness training, water survival training, the leadership reaction course (LRC), and rock climbing. Academic classes included effective communication, leading, and following. Of the four flights (groups) Naytia Robinson’s flight finished in first place for the weekend and Dylan Boyers finished second!

Over the summer, four cadets spent 9 days in Summer Leadership School (SLS), hosted by East Orange High School at Ft. Dix in New Jersey. Academics, the leadership reaction course, drill, and orienteering made for a challenging week and a half! Of the eight 16-20 member flights, Honor Flight (first place) was awarded to A Flight - Naytia Robinson, Dylan Boyer, and Matt Batease; and Kickball Champions went to B Flight with Andrew Rosa. Naytia Robinson and Matt Batease were best in field earning the Female and Male Athlete Award - a first for one school earning both awards! Dylan Boyer had the honor of being a member of the Color Guard for the Pass in Review parade and Awards Ceremony. Best in Drill went to Chief Jayne Thompson’s Flight. Our cadets had a challenging and exciting time enhancing their leadership and people skills – all looking forward to applying what they learned back at Schenectady and their next opportunity to attend SLS!!!

Dylan Boyer had the opportunity to meet with Major Samantha Weeks, Lead Solo pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds, graduate of the Air Force Academy and Rome Free Academy (RFA Class of ’94). Prior to the Air Show she briefed and entertained questions from Rome Free Academy and Schenectady JROTC cadets mostly centering around what it takes to be a pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds. The bottom line was that it takes focus and determination!

The Air National Guard med-evac training flight is a highlight for all of our cadets! Interaction with pilots, navigators, loadmasters and nurses aboard the aircraft significantly broadens the outlook our cadets have for life after high school.