Umatilla High School JROTC Program Fundraiser

Umatilla JROTC Fundraiser

The U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is one of the largest character development and citizenship programs for youth in the world. The National Defense Act of 1916 established organized JROTC programs at public and private educational institutions. In 1964, Congress expanded the program to all military services and changed from active duty to shared support from the services and schools. As congressionally mandated by Title 10 United States Code, Section 2031, each military service must have a JROTC program to “instill in students in United States secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States, and personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment.” JROTC’s mission, “To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens”, is the guide post for the program’s success. The U.S. Army’s JROTC program currently operates in more than 1,700 public and private high schools, military institutions, and correctional centers throughout the United States and overseas. Approximately 40% of JROTC programs are in inner city schools, serving a student population of 50% minorities. As JROTC students (Cadets) progress through the program, they experience opportunities to lead other Cadets. A major component of the JROTC leadership and citizenship program is female Cadets. Female Cadets make up 40% of the Cadet population. The JROTC faculty is led by nearly 4,000 instructors who are retired from active duty, reserve duty, or National Guard Army service. Instructors are trained and qualified in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act 2007 to teach and mentor approximately 314,000 JROTC Cadets annual

About Us

Our program was established in 2011 through the efforts of businessman Mr. Carl Ludeke, Principal Mike Elchenko, and Assistant Principal Ryan Strem. Initially cadets wore the Army green Class A uniform. We created a Bulldog patch for wear on the sleeve. Now cadets wear the Army Service Uniform (Dark Blue coat and light blue trousers/slacks). The Army no longer allows us to place patches on our uniforms. Cadets also wear our unit crest. This was also created for our unit. The crest is in the school colors of Black and Orange. The compass symbolizes direction and is used here to indicate our program’s mission: To Motivate Young People to Be Better Citizens; in other words to point them in the right direction. The words Unity, Honor, and Service reflect our sense of family, doing the right thing, and to serve others. The initials spell: UHS. Training Schedule: Monday - Academics Tuesday - Academics Wednesday - Uniform Wear, ACT/SAT, Drill Thursday - DNC (Drill and Ceremony) Friday - Physical Training (Unit T-shirt) Battalion Command and Staff: Battalion Commander - Cadet LTC Kierra Wilken Battalion Executive Officer and SPO-Cadet LTC Jacob Morin Battalion Command Sergeant Major - Cadet CSM Connor Strew S1 - Cadet CPT Melanie Skelton S1 Asst.-Cadet 1SG Melea Stingley S2 - Cadet CPT Garrett Loeser S2 Asst. - Cadet CPL Stanley Roberts S3 - Cadet MAJ Andrew Cesares S3 Asst - Cadet CPL Hunter Casares & Cadet SGT Briley Reiseman S4 - Cadet CPT Ashley Kowalski S4 Asst - Cadet CPL September Lannin S5 - Cadet CPT Zandra Harrison S5 Asst - Cadet CPL Kellen Scribner S6 - Cadet CPT Timothy Dyer S6 Asst. - Cadet CPL Cerry Wade A Company Commander - Cadet CPT Mia Lowery 1SG - Cadet 1SG Melanie Cornish B Company Commander - CPT Alexa Swavely 1SG -Cadet 1SG Melea Stingley Our first two instructors were LTC Chuck Minyard and 1SG Ronnie McCullough. 1SG McCullough retired in 2019 and was replaced by SFC Jose Negron. LTC Minyard retired in 2020 and was replaced by LTC Al Nevarez. SFC Negron retired in 2023 and CW2 Wayne Loeser is the new Army Instructor- for the program.