SERIOUS TEENS KIDS PREPARE FOR WAR THEY MAY FIGHT.Byline: Marci Wormser Staff Writer PALMDALE - To onlookers, they could be a curious sight: teenagers walking around high school campuses in military-style uniforms, standing at attention and addressing adults as ``sir'' and ``ma'am.'' They are in sharp contrast to slouching slouch v. slouched, slouch·ing, slouch·es v.intr. 1. To sit, stand, or walk with an awkward, drooping, excessively relaxed posture. 2. To droop or hang carelessly, as a hat. v. peers in baggy pants. And Maj. Conrad Hernandez and Tech. Sgt. Robin Reed Robin Reed (October 20, 1899 - December 20, 1978) is considered among the greatest amateur wrestlers in the history of the sport. Throughout his career he never lost a wrestling match, official or unofficial, to anyone at any weight class. wouldn't have it any other way. Hernandez and Reed lead the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, which draws 150 Highland High School Highland High School or Highlands High School may refer to: In the United States:
``We're not here to recruit students in the Air Force,'' said Hernandez, who is retired from active duty. ``Our mission is to make better citizens for America Citizens for America is a U.S. conservative grass-roots group founded by drugstore magnate Lewis E. Lehrman. While it was run in the 1980s by Jack Abramoff, it assisted Oliver North in garnering support for the Nicaraguan Contras. .'' Joining the military after graduation is not compulsory for Junior ROTC students, but many are thinking about it - even as America's servicemen and women are shipping out for possible war in the Middle East. ``I wanted something to prepare me for the future,'' said Highland junior Mario Salguero, who plans to join the Marines after graduation. ``We get a lot of opportunities that a normal student wouldn't get to do.'' ``It provides a challenge that other classes don't,'' Matthew Foster said of his four years in Highland's Junior ROTC. He plans to go to college next year but is considering joining the Navy after that. When students pursue military careers after graduation, the results have been both bittersweet bittersweet, name for two unrelated plants, belonging to different families, both fall-fruiting woody vines sometimes cultivated for their decorative scarlet berries. and gratifying grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. , Hernandez admits. ``It's hard. We do have former students that are serving in the Gulf right now,'' Hernandez said. Junior ROTC and military-style cadet programs are offered at many Antelope Valley high schools Antelope Valley High School is located in Lancaster, California and is part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District. It was founded in 1912[1]. It is located in the Mojave Desert. : 300 students are enrolled in the Junior ROTC program at Lancaster High School Lancaster High School may refer to:
The Antelope Valley High and 200 at Littlerock High. The Cadet Corps leadership programs are military-style, but funded by the Antelope Valley Union High School District The Antelope Valley Union High School District (A.V.U.H.S.D.) is located in the Antelope Valley area of California, in northern Los Angeles County. The district includes eight public high schools, one trade school, and two continuation high schools in the cities of Palmdale rather than by the Air Force. Highland's Junior ROTC is the valley's oldest, started by Hernandez in 1994 after he retired from the Air Force. Junior ROTC's attraction stems from teenagers' need for structure, Hernandez believes. ``Kids won't come out and say they want structure,'' he said. ``But that's what they want.'' The Junior ROTC instructor said he is frustrated frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: by many people's image of the program. ``They envision students marching and rolling up flags,'' Hernandez said. ``But that's not all we do.'' Junior ROTC students must perform five hours of community service a quarter. They prepare research papers and other academic assignments, routinely coordinated with their core-subjects teachers. Many take part in a Junior ROTC Academic Challenge against other Junior ROTC students. In January, Desert High School finished first and Highland High School finished third in an academic competition for Junior ROTC units from California, Nevada and Oregon. Lancaster High School students also competed, earning a team honor and an individual award. The students answered questions derived from a military test for recruits. They took written tests in culture and geography, mathematics and language, and they competed in a ``super quiz'' on the World War II battle of Iwo Jima The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought between the United States and Japan in February and March 1945, during the Pacific Campaign of World War II. The U.S. invasion, known as Operation Detachment, was aimed at capturing the airfields on Iwo Jima. . Cadets also competed in arm-wrestling. ``We place an emphasis on academics,'' Hernandez said. Although Junior ROTC cadets do not have to enter the military after graduation, there is increased rank and pay for those who do. Special college scholarships are also offered to students in the program. Part of the program's structure includes demanding that students make clear plans for post-high school careers, military service or education. ``My seniors already have plans for what they want to do,'' Hernandez said. Freshman Brian Long, whose mother and grandmother served in the military, agrees. ``I thought it would help get me where I want to go,'' the teen said. ``I want to get into the Air Force. We learn a lot about leadership. We learn to deal with ourselves.'' Antelope Valley High School Cadet Corps senior Mayra Pineda said she has seen teens do a complete about-face as part of the cadet experience. ``There's a big change in their attitude,'' she said. ``They learn more respect.'' One of Hernandez's biggest sources of pride is a former student who couldn't stay awake during class. Hernandez said he put the student to work to make use of his interest in building things. The teen was put in charge of hands-on classroom projects, and he flourished in the class instead of sleeping through it, Hernandez said. In 1998, the instructor learned that the same young man, now in the military, commanded an airplane to safety, saving four people on board. ``I've seen kids' lives changed,'' Hernandez said. ``Some of my former students come back and thank me.'' CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Students in Highland High School's Junior ROTC, oldest program of its type in the valley, salute as the flag is lowered. (2 -- color) Highland High cadets, from left, Matthew Foster, John Baianonte, Ryan Porchia and Mario Salguero fold the flag. (3) Matthew Foster, 17, cadet colonel The grade of Cadet Colonel (abbreviated C/Col) is the highest grade, and final milestone that a cadet of the Civil Air Patrol may attain. The grade is synonymous with the General Carl A. Spaatz Award. in the Highland Junior ROTC, leads the march away with the folded flag after a ceremony. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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