JROTC Commissioning Ceremony

Tonight was the annual fall potluck dinner and commissioning ceremony for Cs JROTC SVHS Saint Battalion. The food is always declicious and you can pick and choose and still get full. Someone always makes Spanish rice and beans. There were a couple kinds of potatoes, three kinds of chicken, sauerkraut and sausage, noodles with cheese and chicken (yummy), a veggie tray, macaroni salad, sloppy joes, and an assortment of desserts. I noticed the veggy tray was the only vegetable this time. There were no cheesecakes or 'to die for' desserts. My peach pie was peachy.

How they do the food line. First all the companies do their competitive mottoes. They do this in order: Headquarter Co., Alpha Co., Bravo Co., Charlie Co. The companies eat in the order of loudest to softest. Tonight 1st Seargeant O. had to add the parents' cheers. The choice was tough but it went C, A, H, B. Here's the HQ motto: "Headquarters Company, we're in command. Saints Battalion best in the land. Hooah." Now imagine 25 teenagers saying this at their absolute loudest voices. (If you have ever watched the Battalion march in the Memorial Day parade, you have an idea of what a motto sounds like.) It's a way to increase positive attitude in their company.

The program is before all this. Color guard presents the colors ceremonially followed by the National Anthem. Sometimes someone sings. Tonight it was pre-recorded. There's an opening prayer in proper reverential form. There are comments, swearing in of upper-level officers, then the presentation of new ranks to all cadets who have earned promotions. Parents are invited to switch the shoulder ranks for their child. There are dozens of pictures taken by interested persons.

So, C was promoted from Master Seargeant to Captain. She was happy! She had no idea beforehand whether or not she would get promoted and only knew that seniors probably would all be promoted somehow. Skipping ranks to officer level made her day.

It's kind of nice seeing all this and knowing the students get taught all kinds of good things by being members of the program. Their creed goes like this: "I am an army Junior ROTC cadet. I will alway conduct myself to bring credit to my family, country, school and the Corps of Cadets. I am loyal and patriotic. I am the future of the United States of America. I do not lie, cheat, or steal and will always be accountable for my actions and deeds. I will always practice good citizenship and patriotism. I will work hard to improve my mind and strengthen my body. I will seek the mantle of leadership and stand prepared to uphold the constitution and the American way of life. May God grant me the strength to always live by this creed."

Way to go, Captain C! hooah...