Cadets march to their Pass and Review

  • Published
  • By Christina Carmen Crea
  • Northwest Guardian
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  More than 700 cadets from 11 high schools had their Puget Sound Junior ROTC Sunset Pass and Review May 12 at Stadium High School's stadium in Tacoma, which marks the completion of yearlong activities.

Seventeen-year-old Cadet 1st Lt. Melissa Kinney, Lakes High School Army Junior ROTC's battalion commander, said she's enjoyed being battalion commander.

"We had the change of command a month ago, and I feel proud of our team Kinney said. "This is my third year in ROTC and I plan to lead as battalion commander and finish my senior year with ROTC as well."

Kinney, who's a junior at Lakes High School, said she originally started in the Junior ROTC because her older sister inspired her.

"I would watch the cadets growing up and I loved it," Kinney said. "I love taking charge and seeing myself and other cadets grow."

Throughout the year and especially prior to the event, Kinney said all cadets practice marching.

"Before the Pass and Review, we practice on the field to make sure we were top-notch right ready to go," Kinney said.

After Kinney graduates from Lakes High School, she wants to go to college and major in biochemical engineering or nursing.

Lakes High School Cadet Pfc. Bryan Adkins, 15, sophomore, said this is his first year with the Junior ROTC.

"I feel really proud today and thought we did better than usual," Adkins said. "I started ROTC because I'm looking for a career in the military. I love how dedicated everyone is and I plan to stay in the program for all my years left at Lakes High School."

Colonel Craig Gaddis, 62nd Maintenance Group, was one of the speakers at the event and said the Junior ROTC is a special program that, 34 years ago, he did as well.

"Doing it led me on a good path to my 30-year military career," Gaddis said. "About 25 percent of those who do ROTC join some type of armed forces in the future. And the other 75 percent greatly benefit from the unique military experience by learning good skills such as integrity, which will serve them well in the future."

Gaddis added it gives cadets a "sense of belonging."

"You work as a team together for a common purpose," Gaddis said. "It helps cadets learn to build relationships, which is key in life. To this day, some of my friends are ones I made from ROTC. The ability to build bonds as you go into society is important and it's important to have institutions that help build those bonds."

All cadets marched with their battalion and a winner was chosen at the end of event.

The top three marching Junior ROTC high schools included: Wilson High School, first place; Henry Foss High School, second place; and Bremerton High School, third place.

The 11 high schools who participated included: Washington High School, Lakes High School, Spanaway Lake High School, Lincoln High School, Bremerton High School, Bethel High School, Curtis High School, Henry Foss High School, Wilson High School, Mt. Tahoma High School and Stadium High School.