Paramount High School JROTC
Posted by Bud Jackson
on May 10, 2015
The Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) is a program offered to high schools that teaches students (Cadets) character education, student achievement, wellness, leadership, and diversity. Collectively, these lessons motivate students (Cadets) to be better citizens. In addition to promoting citizenship, JROTC also prepares students (Cadets) for college.
Colonel Robert Guild brought three of his cadets to Paramount Rotary to inform us the activities at PHS. After 26 years of active duty as a Medical Service Corps Officer he has spent the last eight years with the PUSD. He began the program with about 25 cadets which has grown to 178 today. Colonel Guild’s career has taken him all over the world, including two tours of duty in Iraq and Kuwait and adjunct duty in Saudi Arabia.
JROTC is very active in community service performing a variety of tasks including cleanup, planting, setup and take down of equipment for events. They have logged 7000 hours of community service this year. JROTC is an accredited course teaching leadership and management skills. Inspectors of the program at PHS were so impressed with the program that after the cadet’s presentation that they had no further questions and awarded PHS with the highest score west of the Mississippi. Colonel Guild pointed out that the area includes programs in Asia. The cadets are still trying to figure out why they only received 98.5 out of 100.
The cadets are put through the rigors of physical fitness with boot camp type exercises. The cadets told us about themselves and all credited JROTC with making them a better person. They make close friends that they think of as family. They wear their uniforms to school on Mondays and to special events.
Casey Jimenez is the out-going Battalion Commander who will attend UCI and plans to become a neurosurgeon. Carlos Robielos is the new Battalion Commander who credits the program for providing the leadership skills he needs to be successful in his new position. Eric Aldana is the new Sergeant Major, he competed with cadets from other schools to win a trip to Washington D.C. During his week he will stay at Catholic University in D.C. and will compete nationally in the leadership category. He will meet the President and be judged by Major General Peggy Combs, the head of ROTC.
Looking sharp in their uniforms are (L-R) Eric Aldana, Casey Jimenez, Carlos Robielos and Colonel Guild. All the News that is Fit to Print
President John reported that the Poker tournament netted $3100. He gave a special thank you to Mary Jane and Maria for their efforts. Click on the photo link for scenes from this event.
Wheel spinners were: Bud Jackson for his new motorcycle, John Berg for his trip to Montana to visit his mother, and Dean Mouren-Laurens for getting away with a warning from CHP for driving to fast.
Walmart awarded PRC with $1000 for community service in Paramount. To see photos from this event please click on the photo link.
Maria MacLean received a commendation from the County of Los Angeles for her more than 16 years of service to the Paramount Chamber and the City of Paramount. Good luck in your new job Maria!