It was 6 a.m. The bus was parked outside the Santa Fe High School Activities Center. The excitement and anxiety in the air was almost palpable as cadets with the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps waited with their luggage. The cold but revitalizing temperature kept the group motivated and awake.

The 46 cadets were getting ready to go to California on a May trip that combined pleasure and business. They were headed to Southern California to visit both a naval base and the Coast Guard in San Diego, but the cadets also had plans to stop at Disneyland and California Adventure to celebrate the end of a year of hard work.

Santa Fe High School is the only school in Santa Fe that offers a JROTC class. The federal program is sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools across the U.S., and was originally created as part of the National Defense Act of 1916. The branches of the military — Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and one Coast Guard unit — offer the classes. The program authorizes the loan of federal military equipment and the assignment of military personnel as instructors.

The JROTC program has changed greatly over the years. While it once focused on enlisting recruits and officer candidates, it now prepares high-school students for leadership roles while making them aware of their rights, responsibilities and privileges as U.S. citizens. It retains its military structure, with the goal of infusing in its student cadets a sense of discipline and confidence.

At SFHS, Navy JROTC has been active since 1968, with about 200 cadets participating this year. It's funded by the Navy, which provides all the instructional material, uniforms and equipment necessary for the student activities.

"It doesn't have any association with the military, except for funding," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Mark Plowman, instructor of the Santa Fe High School class. "We are not recruiters."

He also said that most kids willingly stay for the duration of high school — four years — in the program. Plowman also noted that 60 percent of JROTC students go to college and 25 percent of them go into the military.

Cadet Chief Petty Officer Dominic Valdez is planning to join the Army. He said he likes the discipline of the class and spinning rifles for competitions.

And even though sophomore Michael Broomer signed up for this class because he thought it would be better than physical education, he now holds the rank of cadet ensign — the lowest commissioned naval officer — and is part of the armed team, having the chance of going to in-state competitions.

Santa Fe High School Principal Robert Stephens said he is impressed with the program.

"It's not just about competitions — it's about leadership, camaraderie, discipline and work ethic," Stephens said. "It provides opportunities for students to be part of something excellent."

Junior Zach Higgins also enjoys the program.

"I like teaching people new things, and helping new cadets," Higgins said.

Some of the activities that students have include orienteering, drill teams, color guard, physical training, academic teams, rifle teams, unarmed teams, obstacle courses, tournaments, volunteering, special trips and a military ball that's held at the end of the year.

Esprit de corps — group pride — is the key of success for this class. Kids can be active in something, while also succeeding in school.



Dulce Cervantes is a 2009 graduate of Santa Fe High School. You can reach her at elenacvt@yahoo.com.