Community involvement spreads Air Force pride

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jerry Munoz
  • 301st Mission Support Group
Fort Worth, TEXAS --  For over a year now, I've been going out to local schools to provide some assistance for their military programs. The idea originated after I was judging a local Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps competition. The instructor starting asking me questions on how to make their program better. I offered to go to the high school and help him train his cadets. 

I'm currently assisting the program at Timberview High School in Mansfield, Texas. Timberview opened in August 2004, with the JRROTC program starting the following school year. 

The Air Force JRROTC program at Timberview teaches three different subjects: Academics - 40 percent, Leadership - 40 percent, and Physical Education - 20 percent. Typically the instructors will teach three ninety-minute blocks per day. Friday's are reserved for physical education. 

Some of the topics discussed in class are AF history, world cultures, aerospace studies, academic studies, and astronomy. During drill and ceremony time, the cadets drill outside to become proficient in marching, calling cadence, etc.... The Timberview AFJROTC staff include: Senior Aerospace Science instructor -Lt. Col. Webster, Aerospace Science instructor - Senior Master Sgt. Cox, Cadet Leadership and cadet group commander - Lt. Col. Jaime Zahirniak and deputy commander - Lt. Col. Micah Breedlove. 

The group's drill team and color guard team practice after school so they may compete in local competitions. During the past year, their program has made tremendous strides. 

Initially, training was a little difficult; it took some time to feeling them out. They were still using Army drill and ceremony movements. But, to their credit, they quickly saw the light and were receptive to our 301st Base Honor Guard training standards. 

I showed them the Air Force Honor Guard basic protocol, honors, and the ceremonies training guide manual as well as the visual training guide we helped design. I stressed to them, "This is what we use when we trained our personnel and it was a proven commodity." From then on, their program started to gel. 

In the weeks that followed, I noticed their movements were finally becoming consistent. I started to get positive feedback from the cadets on their recent competitions. The hard work payoff finally came in their competition in Wiley, Texas, Jan. 2008. The Color Guard team from Timberview High School tied for first! 

When I went to the high school for my weekly visit, they were very excited to tell me about how they placed in the competition. It was the first trophy ever won by their program. They also thanked me for prejudging them Thursday before the competition, and for all the direction I had given leading up to the event! 

I said to them, "This is what we strongly believe about our program back at the 301st Fighter Wing Base Honor Guard: continuity plus consistency equals competency!" If they follow the training method the Honor Guard uses, they will continue to be successful!