Sultana JROTC receives outstanding rating

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen!” Lt. Col. Thomas Jahnke of the Sultana High School JROTC says to a classroom full of impeccably dressed JROTC cadets.

“Good morning, sir!” they shout back in unison.

But this isn’t the usual school-is-almost-over-for-the-week Thursday morning. This is the day when USAF Colonel Donald Belche is making his once every three year inspection report.

And the cadets are ready.

First, Cadet Major Samantha Pedregon presides over the students’ presentations. After showing a cadet-produced video, she gives a “mission briefing” and talks about duties and missions.

Pedregon also speaks of the Sultana unit’s community goals, which include raising at least $500 to Wounded Warriors, a program that provides services to severely injured service members. The 14-year-old Sultana JROTC, which has 122 cadets, also seeks to increase its volunteer hours to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Loma Linda, she says.

“Sultana ROTC is very involved in our community.”

Then other cadets approach the podium for their reports. Cadets giving presentations include Ashley Manzano, Daniel Hernandez, Moises Reyes, Raina Vallicella, Scott Butterworth, Nick Van Haasert, Jesse DeMase, Rena Caines, William Beattie, Dillon Heath, Michael “Mikey” Garcia, Max Schmoll, Kyle Smith, Michelle Bracey, Samuel Rosas and Preston Cannedy.

Others in attendance at the special event are Hesperia Unified School District superintendent Mark McKinney, Principal Tracy Marsh, school board members Hardy Black, Robert Kirk and Chris Bentley. Head counselor Diana Sochor also is there. Prior to the student presentations , David Greiner of Greiner GMC-Pontiac-Buick in Victorville presented Cadet Raina Vallicella with the “Cadet of the Month” award.

Following the presentations, guests gather for refreshments as Cadet Major Pedregon conducts a weekly uniform inspections in a nearby corridor. After returning to the classroom, the cadets and instructors conduct a briefing — then wait until later in the day to learn the results of Col. Belche’s visit.

“We had an outstanding rating,” Lt. Col. Jahnke announces to a reporter the following morning. “He said we had very good leadership and great organization. The kids did a great job on their presentations. He was very pleased with our performance.”