by Cadet Master Sergeant Hannah Sullo, S7 NCOIC

The 2016-2017 Wolfpack Battalion’s Continuous Improvement Plan was to plan, prepare and execute individual company Service Learning projects. The projects included delivering care packages to our local police department, sending supplies to Venuezala and lending a hand at local food banks and shelters. Our cadets enjoyed not only the opportunity to help the community but the chance to interact with them as they handed out food and clothes or just encouragement. The five companies completed their individual Service Learning projects by conducting individual and group reflections.

Cadets Walter Wahle and Joseph Aherns judging Platoon Drill at Field Day

Cadets enjoyed their last day before Spring Break competing in our annual JROTC Field Day. The Cadets were judged on individual, squad, platoon and company drill performances, company skits, sports (Tug-Of- War, Flag Football, Ultimate Frisbee, Capture the Flag, Kickball & Volleyball), and overall spirt. All the Cadets were winners but Alpha Company took home overall title of Field Day Champions.

Senior Cadets Garret Hermida, Destiney Rainey, Christine Torsone, and Walter Wahle spent a fun and educational day at MacDill Air Force Base viewing static equipment displays and strapping into the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) virtual parachute trainer. The JROTC and NTHS clubs continue to work hard for the upcoming Relay for Life on Saturday and Sunday, 8 & 9 April 2017. Their booth at the event will have a Beauty and the Beast theme where they will be offering “Hena”, so come be our guest.

Male Color Guard competing at States on April 1st

The mission of JROTC is to “motivate young people to be better citizens” and that is exactly what we’re doing. Cadets Mallory Hirn and Raquel Janes were selected to attend Girls State (pleasse note that the sponsoring program was only able to select two candidates from the numerous applications. Cadets Chris Pinedo and Alex Gubler were two of the five candidates selected to go to Boys State. Both Boys and Girls State will be held in Tallahassee, Florida this summer. They both offer attendees a chance to participate in activities and run for offices in a “fictitious” government (based on the Florida) at the local, county, and state levels. Both are highly respected programs and are challenging to get accepted into. We are honored to have four of our Cadets represent JROTC, Newsome, and the FishHawk community. Cadet Mallory Hirn is the recipient of this year’s General H. Norman Schwarzkopf Leadership Award. She is only the second Newsome student to receive this award and the first Cadet for Newsome JROTC.

Mixed Armed Regulation Platoon competing at States on April 1st

Newsome JROTC special teams continue to do well as our male Color Guard Team, commanded by Cadet CSM Walter Wahle, moves on to State level competition at George Jenkins High School on Saturday, April 1 st . Joining them are members of our Mixed Armed Regulation Platoon Drill Team, commanded by Cadet Katherine Metheny. Our Rifle Team competes at Districts held at Alonso High School on Saturday, March 25 th in hopes of making it to States April 25 th . As we head down the home stretch of the 2016-2017 school year, the Instructors and Cadet Staff are preparing for this year’s Annual JROTC Award Ceremony to be held Tuesday, April 25 th in the Newsome auditorium from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. For more information on upcoming and/or current events within the Wolfpack Battalion go to http://www.newsomejrotc.com/ or click on the JROTC link under the Programs tab on the Newsome High School homepage.