The AFJROTC Program of Shadow Ridge contains more than 200 cadets as well as 13 Leadership Development Requirements, also known as LDR’s, that students can participate in. These activities are distinguished in 3 different categories such as STEM based, activity based, and unit based. Some of the STEM based LDR’s are Cyberpatriot, JLAB Academic Bowl, and the Drone Program. The activity based LDR’s are the armed and Unarmed Drill Teams, Color Guard, Physical Fitness Team, Kitty Hawk Air Society, Mentors, Orienteering Team, and the Marksmanship Team. And lastly, the Unit based LDR’s are the APT Team, Flag Detail Team, and Top 3. Each of these LDR’s have their own quirks and distinctness from the other, but all still include cadets entertainment. 

One of the more popular activities is the Drill LDR’s, which involves students performing tricks and precise drill movements with a model rifle. On the other hand, unarmed drill involves students to perform pinpoint drill movements without the rifles in exact movements, or beats, another variation of the unarmed drill performance. Nicholi Estala, junior, as well as a former unarmed team member, has had his fun participating in various competitions,

“In my time being in the JROTC unit I could say that I had a lot of fun competing with other schools and making new friends in the program,” Estala says.

In the regular everyday classroom, the students are taught uniform guidelines and rules, the Air Force history, from the first aircraft made to the most recent in modern technology, unit organization, and simply being involved in the class activities. Being in this program encourages cadets to get out of their comfort zone, and be more involved with the activities and students that are within the class. They have the ability to work their way up to lead the classroom by being a flight commander and/or flight sergeant. Joseph Ampong, junior, was one of the individuals who had the experience to take that role.

“In the position of flight commander, you’re essentially the figurehead of the flight. You’re in charge of things like inspections, leading them around when they’re outside, and even things like volunteering someone to read the board. You essentially do the work of a first line manager. The Flight sergeant, however, does these things in the absence of the commander, but also does things like make sure the class runs smoothly for the commander to do their job, which may or may not include things like assisting in inspection, helping to do things like command in class, etc. Both of them essentially play off of each other to make the job easy,” Ampong states.

Cadets are taught the certain basic commands of drill being left face, right face, about face, present arms, and order arms. They are increasingly taught more challenging commands, all leading up to marching, and marching with the commands being told. The benefits of joining the unit helps cadets socialize and learn how to work as a team, Eleen Norman, junior, states her own thoughts on the program.

The unit has several different things for all cadets to learn and enjoy, and hopefully for upcoming cadets to enjoy as well