News

I had the opportunity to serve on a selection board yesterday with the senior instructors from all JROTC high schools in FWISD (15 total).  There were ten candidates put up by their respective schools to compete for several key district-level leadership positions next school year. 

One of our Cadets was number two on the Order Merit Listing after taking a competitive academic test and answering 32 hard-hitting questions from the board members while demonstrating her ability to maintain composure and critical thinking skills under what an extremely stressful environment this is.  Imagine sitting alone in a chair for approximately 30 minutes in front of 15 retired senior military officers and doing your best to remain calm, collected while making a positive impression.  Unless it is a general court-martial in the military, we don't even do that during our career.  The most on a promotion board I ever faced through the rank of Colonel was a General Officer President and three peer members no more than one grade above me.

Isabella Fierro will serve next year as the Deputy Corps Commander, holding one of only two Cadet Colonel ranks authorized throughout the district.  One of her statements to the board yesterday was, "actions speak louder than words."  She will learn and demonstrate the educational chores of her Cores and the Corps!!!

We, the Air Force JROTC Program of WHHS cannot thank our Administration and District Leadership, the superb counselors and our awesome teachers enough for supporting the outcome of Wednesday's Unit Evaluation of TX-863.   This was our first inspection in the last four years, the last one being the final week of school before we shut down (literally) for Covid.

Typically, we should not have gone three years without another inspection but our awesome Cadets, and an entirely new class of students who had never been through this before pulled it off.   Hopefully you recognize some of your students in the attached pictures.  If so, pat them on the back and tell them, "good job."  I cannot tell you how hard many of them worked to pull off Wednesday's results.

More Pictures

On November 3, nine of our high speed, low drag, awesome Cadets served our community at Waverly Park Elementary. They taught future WHHS students the value of health, teamwork, fair play and respect while learning the value of “Service Before Self” by putting one of our core values to practical application.

Our goal was to collect 45 units of blood, but our community and students helped JROTC exceed that goal and collect 55 units. 

Great picture with the Fort Worth mayor and four of our students last night after they had posted the colors to open Oktoberfest at Trinity Park.  Mayor Mattie Parker thanked them for a great job behind the stage.  The event honored some 350 corporate sponsors of Fort Worth’s annual Oktoberfest event.  I was impressed that the mayor literally left the stage area to shake each cadet’s hand, thanked them, and allowed a picture. Cadets were quite honored to be made to feel as special as she took the time to do.

Cadets are left to right, Michelle Gutierrez, Gabriella Theas, Jose Torres and Jose Mendieta-Rubio with Mayor Parker.