Ja’vina Milner shaking hands with Jerome Gates
By Amanda Pevey
Elmore/Autauga News
On Wednesday, April 25th the Wetumpka High School JROTC program scored a 99% on their JPA, JROTC Program for Accreditation. This accreditation is required every three years for the program to adhere to AdvancED’s Standards for Quality.
This simply means it’s a comprehensive program emphasizing continuous improvement in teaching and learning. There are 137 cadets in the JROTC program that is combined with students from Wetumpka High School, Holtville High School, and Elmore County High School.
JROTC stands for Junior Reserve Office Training Corps.
The two commanders in charge overseeing the cadets are Sergeant First Class Danny Hunter and Major Joey Hutto. Inspector Jerome Gates from the 6th Brigade Headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama conducted the inspection. Staff Sergeant Jonathan Benton was the National Grader. Sergeant Major Kinneth Baker from Carver High School in Montgomery was there to observe all the procedures.
Sergeant First Class Hunter has had 22 years of Active Duty Service. He has been in the JROTC program for 28 years. Major Hutto has had 22 years of Active Duty Service as well. He has been in the JROTC program for eight years.
Sergeant Major Baker is with the JROTC program at Carver High School, has had 26 years of Active Duty Service and ten years in the JROTC program.
Jerome Gates inspected the Color Guard and Drill team. He also listened to the Battalion Staff Continuous Improvement briefing and the Service Learning Briefing. He made sure to ask them questions in regards to what role each of them do for the program. Gates also did inspections on the Cadet Portfolios and the Instructor Portfolios. He stated that the books were very thorough, organized and they all did an outstanding performance with the entire presentation.
Final Grades:
• Battalion Staff Briefing- 34/35
• Service Learning Briefing- 19/20
• Cadet Portfolio- 20/20
• Unit Report- 35/35
• Drill/Color Guard- 15/15
• Platoon Drill- 15/15
• Instructor Portfolio- 30/30
FINAL GRADE- 198/200 (99%)
**IT IS THE HIGHEST SCORE GATES HAS GIVEN OUT THIS YEAR!**
At the end of the Inspection, Gates gave Battalion Commander Ja’vina Milner a challenge coin for doing an excellent job commanding her staff. He explained to her to keep this with her at all times, and the challenge is if you do not have it on you, then you have to buy that person a drink. If you have it with you, then the other person will buy you a drink. Milner shook hands with Gates and accepted her challenge coin.
“These kids know that these two men beside me do a great job in this program,” said Dr. Robbie Slater, principal of Wetumpka High School. Slater continued, “They cannot have better role models in this position than these two guys right here. They do a great job for the school, they help us out with the leadership, and they do an outstanding job. I am very blessed. Congratulations to all, and job well done.”
Major Hutto said, “Thank you Dr. Slater for allowing us to have a lot of freedom to do what we need to do. There are some schools out there that don’t have that kind of relationship, and we are very blessed. Just remember this day, because you all had a part in this. It takes the entire team so we need to remember to do our job, and to come together as a team.”
Sergeant First Class Hunter said, “Congratulations to each and every one of you. It is a team effort, and I would also like to thank Sergeant Major Baker for coming out doing observation, some input with Mr. Gates, and Amanda with Elmore/Autauga News. You guys did a great job today. I know there are times where we may have attitudes, or hard on you, but it’s all because it leads up to this right here today. It is going to make you a better person. Our mission is to make you a better productive citizen when you leave Wetumpka High School. I also want to congratulate the seniors who did an outstanding job on their briefing today.”
Wetumpka High School is located at 1251 Coosa River Parkway in Wetumpka. For more information about the Wetumpka High School JROTC program, please visit their website at: https://wetumpkahighelmoreal.schoolinsites.com/jrotcstaff
You can also visit their Facebook page at: www.Facebook.com/We2JROTC
