High school J.R.O.T.C. has been really busy

The Loris High School (LHS) J.R.O.T.C. has had a busy February 2019 with the J.R.O.T.C. (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) cadets having their annual Winter Sweet Heart Ball on Saturday, Feb. 2. The attire is their dress blues with medals and cords. As they escorted their dates dressed for the ball they rocked the high school with music and dinner.

On Thursday, Feb. 7, the cadets visited Loris Middle School to speak with the 8th grade class providing answers why to join the J.R.O.T.C. when they move up to high school this coming fall. The cadets dressed in uniform and stood at ease when speaking with the students. They gave some R.O.T.C. T-shirts to the students.

On Friday, Feb. 8, U.S. Army Recruiter Sergeant Snell along with LHS assistant principal, Dr. Maudie Davis, presented a check in the amount of $102,500 to Cadet Julia Badillo to pay for her four years of college. She will be able to obtain a bachelor’s degree at a school of her choice. She also received a letter from Congressman Tom Rice of South Carolina personally thanking her for joining the U.S. Army.

On Saturday, Feb. 9, the J.R.O.T.C. joined five other schools in a competition in a physically demanding four-event test of skill and strength. The LHS J.R.O.T.C. won the vehicle pull with a time of 17.36 seconds. They also ran the track, competed in push-ups and sit-ups and pushing a large tractor tire down the field.

The J.R.O.T.C. program was founded in 1916. It is offered in high schools across America to prepare young adults to become officers in the U.S. military.

LHS J.R.O.T.C. is recruiting for members to come join the program at the high school to get a taste of what life would be like in the military. They do not have boot camp for the cadets as they do when one signs with a branch of the military in the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy or the Coast Guard. It is a preparation with classroom instruction and physical demands to remain fit and in shape.

Any 8th grader who is interested in learning more about military life is encouraged to take the challenge when they reach the 9th grade at Loris High School.