Ritenour High School’s JROTC Nearly Doubles in Size and Opportunities During Program’s Second Year
In just its second year as a full program, Ritenour High School's Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) has experienced significant growth, nearly doubling its enrollment from 60 to 110 cadets for the 2024-2025 school year.
Senior ROTC Instructor Tonia Jennings, who piloted the program as a club in 2022-2023 before launching it fully last year, continues to grow the iniative. To accommodate the influx of new cadets, instructor Monica Baker has joined the team, ensuring each student receives the attention and guidance they need.
“Our cadets are extremely motivated and excited to do new things,” says Jennings. “They want to be involved with as many activities in the community as they can. Their energy and excitement motivate me.”
Some of the cadets’ activities this fall included a Color Guard ceremony on Sept. 11 in Overland, marching in the Ritenour homecoming parade, learning saber skills to introduce the homecoming court, and preparing for several Veterans Day ceremonies. They also have been motivating fans with pushups for every Husky touchdown at home football games.
Competition is another important extracurricular activity for JROTC. This fall, cadets began learning how to operate drones. Their critical thinking and coordination skills in flying, landing, and maneuvering the drone through tunnels and other obstacles prepared them for their first competition in late October. Cadets are also getting in shape to be part of the Raiders Team to compete in November at Fort Leonard Wood in a physical and teamwork-based challenge.
Cadet Randy Lewis, a junior, said the JROTC program has given him skills and strong values that will help him be successful beyond graduation.
“The program really reinforces respecting yourself and others, and being brave no matter what,” said Lewis, who plans to enter the U.S. Army after graduation. “Our goal is to become better citizens.”
Last year, cadets raised $3,000 to pay for their extracurricular activities and competitions. As their schedule grows with more events this year, Jennings said the group aims to raise about $5,000.
During the second semester, cadets will begin learning marksmanship and archery skills at an off-campus location. Cadets must pass a written test with a perfect score before they can participate in these activities, reinforcing the importance of safety and discipline, said Jennings.
One of the program’s significant perks is that cadets who complete at least three years of JROTC in high school can enter the Army as a private first class, earning $500 more per month than those without JROTC experience. The program also sets students up for significant college scholarships. Last year, RHS cadet Alba Valenzuela earned an $80,000 scholarship to attend the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Jennings takes pride in witnessing the personal development of her cadets.
"It's wonderful to see the transformation that happens with a cadet who is shy and timid and then becomes a leader," she says. "I'm most proud when I witness this growth."
