Many people believe that JROTC is just about wearing a uniform; however, it is much more meaningful than that.
The LHS JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) program is housed in room E110 and taught by Master Sergeant Jason Kurkierewicz. This class offers a multitude of activities for all involved, including sniping lessons from a Marine and a chance to compete in the U.S. Junior Olympics.
Ultimately, Master Sergeant Kurkierewicz aspires to teach the members of JROTC leadership skills and how to function in society, lessons that many other high school courses do not cover. Master Sergeant Kurkierewicz hopes that those interested in the program will give him a chance; he encourages students to try out the program even if they are skeptical.
“Give me one semester. If you don’t like it, no hard feelings; it’s not for everyone,” said Master Sergeant Kurkierewicz.
Captain Trinidy Sorenson, a senior at LHS, has been part of the JROTC program for many years and has truly enjoyed her time in the class. Captain Sorenson has immersed herself in many of JROTC’s activities and recently won a drill competition in Minnesota.
“[JROTC] is like a family to me,” said Captain Sorenson.
Captain Sorenson felt welcomed in the program since she joined her freshman year, and she was immediately amazed by what the older members could do. She used the accepting environment to develop her social and leadership skills in LHS and the community.
“When I was a freshman, I was pretty introverted, so [JROTC] taught me how to get involved in my school and in my community and help others,” said Captain Sorenson.
JROTC is more than just a group; it is a community that encourages students to get involved, with multiple service opportunities offered each semester. Members gain leadership skills that will help them in their future careers, even if they are not military-related. In addition to community service, joining JROTC also provides many scholarship opportunities. Some scholarships can even cover full tuition, making them a wonderful opportunity for those looking to gain extra money for school while also learning incredibly valuable lessons.
“Even if you don’t want a life of service, it just helps in life in general because [Master Sergeant Kurkierewicz] teaches you regular life skills,” said Captain Sorenson.
On top of learning life skills, joining JROTC opens up a multitude of opportunities. For example, the JROTC offers a physical training team, an academics team, an air rifle team and a drill team. Each team works to fulfill JROTC’s pillars and has many aspirations.
For the future of the program, Master Sergeant Kurkierewicz wants to make LHS’s JROTC team known at a national level. He aspires for the team to reach nationals and attain as much success as the LHS Marching Band. On top of getting known nationally, Master Sergeant Kurkierewicz wants the absolute best for the cadets going forward, and he hopes to leave a lasting legacy on every cadet in the program. JROTC is a class that often has misconceptions about its course content and what the program teaches. Master Sergeant Kurkierewicz is looking positively towards the future of JROTC and is working hard to make the program exciting and fresh each year.
“[I want the cadets] to grow up to be humble, respectful and accountable. If every cadet could leave these doors and take those three things with them, that would make me be able to sleep at night. [I want] to just make respectable people of the community that are trying to make the United States a better place,” said Master Sergeant Kurkierewicz.
