JROTC stands for Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. At its core, the program is centered on character development and citizenship. JROTC teaches self-discipline, self-confidence, and leadership skills that can help students successfully meet the challenges of adulthood. It is conducted at accredited secondary schools throughout the nation, such as IHS, by instructors who are retired Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers and enlisted personnel.

Cadets within JROTC have the option to compete as part of its Drill team. “Regulation Drill is where the cadets on each team march in a given area, executing a set list of commands,” shares IHS’s Sergeant Major Manuel Portes. “The commands have to be called on the proper foot and at the right time. All cadets are required to execute all movements with precision and synchronization.”

Under the direction of Sgt. Major Portes, seven Drill teams from IHS performed at the 2020 Collier County Drill Competition in late February along with all of Collier’s comprehensive high schools. Only the top two teams were invited to the State competition.

We are happy and excited to report that the following teams made the cut and will be representing the IHS JROTC Battalion on April 18, 2020, in Lakeland:

• Female unarmed squad
• Male unarmed squad
• Unarmed platoon

“We here at the JROTC program at Immokalee High feel very proud of our cadets’ accomplishments,” adds Portes. “They worked extremely hard.”

We wish our IHS Battalion the best of luck as they move to the State competition!