By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
Maria Escobar, 16, is a junior and Cadet Major with the Stanhope Elmore High School JROTC program. However, she was recently interviewed and was subsequently chosen as the Vice President for the State of Alabama JROTC Officer Association.
School officials said it was an extreme honor to have not one, but two Cadets considered for a state position, and the second was Taven Cox.
There were 35 applicants from the entire state of Alabama. That was cut down to 15 to be interviewed. Recently Maria took part in that interview process and during the recent State Leadership Conference Maria earned the prestigious title.
“It was a very eventful weekend,” Maria said with a smile.
She is the first JROTC member from SEHS to be selected for a state position.
“We will have different conferences all throughout the year,” Maria said. “We will be meeting with the State Board of Education to give our input into what goes into our CTSO and CTE programs. We will represent Stanhope Elmore at the Board, such as DECA. I am also involved with that.”
Maria admits she was surprised and honored to learn she had been chosen. “It was really an amazing experience.”
After graduation, Maria plans to join the Army National Guard and Army ROTC at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“I want to pursue a career to become a psychiatrist and eventually become an enlisted officer who works on base with veterans with PTSD.”
Maria said that when she first became a part of JROTC as a freshman, she had no idea that her new position would even be possible.
“Walking in freshman year, I never even knew this was an opportunity. I thought the highest you could go would be the Battalion Commander. I would have never even thought of this position.”
Across the entire state of Alabama, there are only five state positions of this nature for JROTC. There is an overall President, Vice President, a Navy/Marine and Coast Guard Vice President, Army Vice President and representative for Space Force.
SEHS 11th and 12th grade administrator Heather Perdue praised Maria, not just on this most recent accomplishment, but her as both a student and a person.
“We were so excited for Maria,” Perdue said. “But none of us were surprised when we found out she was selected. She does so much for our school. She is involved in so many things.”
Just of portion of those things include:
DECA, Secretary of National Honor Society, Vice President of English Honor Society, Varsity Track, Soccer, and Cross Country Teams, Academic Team for JROTC, competed for the Raider team, attended JCLC which is a leadership camp for the state, and she hosted a leadership camp for SEHS JROTC Cadets.
Perdue said Maria is a leader in every way. She will be applying for Girls State and as a Junior Ambassador next year with the Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce.
“I know I could ask Maria to help me with anything in the school, and she would do it.”
The SEHS JROTC program is led by Command Sergeant Major Nathaniel Bartee and Sergeant 1st Class Wayne Kinley. Both are new to SEHS this year but have already made great strides in promoting the development of the program with new ideas and programs. Bartee said Maria is a shining example of a cadet, and he expects amazing things from her throughout her life and career.
Training for Maria’s new position will begin in June.
When asked how proud he is of Maria, Bartee said, “Where do I start?”
In the state of Alabama, there are 16,000 cadets in the ROTC program. There are 105 schools involved.
“For Maria to be selected as the Army Vice President for all of the state, it is that proud JROTC instructor, father bear feeling. It is something that was earned that she put into this. I just nominated her. She put in the hard work. With me being here this year, you see kids that have it. She is one that has it and she is going to do a lot of great things in the future, for herself, her family and her nation.”
Bartee said the best compliment he can give Maria is simple. “I would let her lead my son or my daughter right now. It is just that simple.”
Bartee said that Maria is both caring yet stern and has the intelligence, personality and the leadership skills that make other Cadets want to follow her.
Currently, there are 158 Cadets in the SEHS program.
“We are trying to grow that right now. And each year we will try to do a little bit more. A program like this, a Cadet can get in and find their niche. They become leaders in the school and with other organizations. Maria is a perfect example of that.”
Bartee said the greatest slogan for the military, is the Army slogan, which is “Be all that you can be.”
He is the beset advice for every child, and every adult.
Both Perdue and Bartee said that the world will hear more about Maria Escobar in the future. Their high hopes are not unfounded, it appears.
The JROTC program recently held their annual Military Ball, and as the XO, Maria oversaw the organizing, planning and completion of the event.
We congratulate Maria on her accomplishments and thank the leaders of the JROTC program and SEHS for offering guidance, wisdom and inspiration for her future.
