Survival club builds life skills

Emily Light
December 16, 2009
Filed under Student Life

Walking into the middle of nowhere, you are given a map and compass.  Your main goal? Survival.

This is the task of this year’s JROTC Survival team.  This team focuses on building the skills necessary to survive in the wilderness, a task that would be hard for most to accomplish.  Cadets are divided into two teams, and are instructed to use a map to find their way out of the woods in a time span of two hours.  Survival team is only one of the numerous facets of JROTC.

Widely known, the drill team attracts the most participants of any JROTC activity.  Drill team focuses on tasks such as saluting and marching, with and without the assistance of rifles. 

Clubs and teams appeal to all interests, ranging from athletics to intellect.  Another lesser known club is the Lady Airman Association (LAA), which was started by senior cadet Yanice Arocho.

“We help each other and the community,” said Arocho.

The LAA is a club meant for girls looking to help others through high school.  But along with helping each other, these ladies help the community through service projects.  This year, LAA has participated in a car wash, raising over 250 dollars. 

To be a part of any JROTC club or team, you must be a current cadet.

Although East Meck is considered an air force school, teachers focus on all parts of the military.  It is not required to join the military to be a cadet.

“99% of JROTC students do not go into the military after they graduate,” said Sergeant Stanley Waller.

JROTC teaches more than just military basics.  It teaches students how to combat crawl through life and grow close to other cadets.

“JROTC teaches kids how to be respectful, and how to be a leader,” said sophomore Kelreen Silva.

Major Ralph Ganis joined the East Meck staff on November 2.  He has brought new ideas with him to help improve JROTC.  But with any gain there is loss.  After serving 15 years on the East Meck staff, Colonel Stanley Swens is retiring.

His sense of humor and good nature will be missed. 

“I’m the best looking person down here,” said Swens