First time for everything

AFJROTC cadets attend first competition of year

Wheeling+around+%2F%2F+Completing+a+right+wheel%2C+freshman+James+%E2%80%9CJT%E2%80%9D+Red+listens+to+Color+Guard+commander+Austin+Miller+for+the+next+commands+at+Billy+Ryan+High+School+Oct.+14.

photo credit: Melissa Wrobel

Wheeling around // Completing a right wheel, freshman James “JT” Red listens to Color Guard commander Austin Miller for the next commands at Billy Ryan High School Oct. 14.

writer: Melissa Wrobel, Staff Reporter

A bead of sweat glides off of freshman James “JT” Red’s face as he performs on Male Color Guard Team at Billy Ryan High School, Oct. 14. The Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, led by Colonel Brooks McFarland and Master Sergeant Lisa Breuer, competed against 28 schools for 11 events in the 2017 SkyRaiders Invitational Drill Competition.

“It was nerve-racking having to see other teams perform before we [Color Guard] went on,” said Red. “Now that it’s [competition] over, I really want to do it [perform] again – just better.”

Cadets were only able to walk away with a second place Individual Physical Training award, given to senior Emma Rick. The prize was presented to her for earning the second highest PT scores in long jump, sit-ups, push-ups and relay.

“I was relieved our corps wasn’t going home empty-handed after all the hard work we put in,” said Rick.

AFJROTC has a competition Nov. 4 at Cooper High School.