The JROTC Department recently, 6 October 1999, held the Annual "Return of Colors", "Commissioning Ceremony", (Nineteen Cadets were commissioned and promoted to second lieutenant), and the entire Cadet Corps conducted a formal "PASS IN REVIEW". Completed!

The next activity will be a Raider Team, Drill Team, and Color Guard competition 30 October 1999. Completed!

The next activity will be the "Sponsors Day Ceremony", 3 November 1999. Twenty-Two (22) Sponsors will be formally recognized in front of the entire student body. This ceremony is to introduce the sponsors and give recognition for their support to the JROTC Military Department and the Corps of Cadets. Sponsors are chosen under a strict set of standards and criteria for each of the elements and teams of the Cadet Corps.


This year there are twenty-two (22) sponsors. The sponsors are required to fabricate a guidon for the section or element they have been chosen to sponsor. Their Guidon will be displayed at all
functions of the corps. Completed!

There will be two (2), possible, three (3) Christmas Parades the Corps will be involved in. These will be the Martinez and Augusta Christmas Parades.

During the last week in January 2000, the Command and Staff will plan for our Annual Grand Military Ball which is held jointly with all of the other six High School in Richmond County. All four of the Military Services are represented by these schools and over 1000 cadets with their dates attend this ball annually.

The Academy of Richmond County JROTC Musketeer Battalion will hold their own separate Ball the Eighteenth of March. The new Honorary Cadet Colonel was selected for school year 2000-2001,she is, Miss Letajal Daniels.

MSG Neal was recognized for his contribution to the Corps of Cadets and the Ball was dedicated to him. MSG Neal retired the end of this school year, 30 June 2000. His replacement has been selected, CSM Noel Cartegena, was the 15th Signal Brigade CSM, Fort Gordon, Ga., he will start 1 July 2000. We welcome him aboard and know that he will continue to ensure the Academy JROTC continues to set the standard for leadership excellence! Huah!

The Richmond County annual JROTC Combined Review was held 1 May 2000 at Lumpkin Road Stadium with all schools JROTC units participating. Over one thousand cadets in their service uniforms which represent all four of the military services and the U.S. Army Signal Corps Band performed in the review. The Academy of Richmond County JROTC Executive Officer, Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Legena Hall served on the Brigade Staff.


Our Honorary Cadet Colonel, Miss Tiffanie Bryant was introduced and escorted out on the field by our principal, Mr. David D. Smith. Our Drill Team won the first ever presented, Co-Ed Drill Team Trophy, named for the past Richmond County Schools Superintendent, Dr. John P. Strellec. Dr. Strellec was present and presented the trophy to our Drill Team Commander, Cadet Lieutenant Omar Hicks. Master Sergeant Neal was presented his retirement plaque from Mr. Sullivan, the Richmond County Board of Education Deputy Superintendent. See pictures below.


Mr. Herman Schlein deceased, was honored by having a Saber dedicated in his honor by his family during ceremonies for the Final Drill and retirement of the Battalion Colors.



BOYS STATE AND GIRLS STATE SELECTIONS

Brandon Brantley, Jeffrey Brown, and Omar Hicks
were selected to attend Boys State.

Mary Rose Virata was selected to attend Girls State.

SCHOOL YEAR 99-2000 JROTC SUMMER CAMP

Twenty Three Cadets were selected and they attended JROTC Summer Camp at Fort Stewart, Ga.,
18-24 June 2000.

Major Price served as the Camp S-5, CSM Cartagena
served as Gulf Company CSM, and 1SG Ryans served as a TAC for Charlie Company. All Cadets did well.
Brandon Brantley and Jeffrey Brown were selected as the top LET-3/4 for their respective companies and received the Commandants Award for Excellence!
HOOAH!
All cadets did well, no one got hurt, no one was sent home for Homesickness, and everyone enjoyed!
It was a good camp. There is a chance the JROTC Summer Camp may be held at Fort Gordon Next Year. We will know in November 2000! There is a scheduling problem with the GA National Guard and they may not be able to support the camp next June.

1 JULY 2000

CSM Cartengena is officially on board as the replacement for MSG Neal. 1SG Ryans is back for his second year.

During the second week in August, 8-10, Fort Gordon hosted an NCO-OFFICER workshop and several of our cadets attended. Cadets were taught by the NCO's from the NCO Academy in Drill, ethics, land navigation, and customs and traditions of the service. It was a great three days and graduation was in Alexander Hall at Fort Gordon on Thursday, 10 August 00. BG Velma Richardson was the guest speaker and she and the Post Command Sergeant Major, CSM Holden, presented the graduation certificates. Everyone who attended also got to eat lunch in a Fort Gordon dining facility.

On Friday, 11 August 00, as a follow-on to that training,
Major Price, and CSM Cartagena, transported eight cadets to Hephzibah where they were given a chance to repel from the 40 foot repel tower. It was great, no one got hurt, everyone had a good time, and we thank LTC Boyd Long and his Raider team for their hospitality. HOOAH!


SCHOOL YEAR 2000-2001

We have two hundred thirty-one cadets pre-registered for this school year and some very good cadets coming back. It appears it will be a very good school year!

Freshman Orientation is scheduled for 16 August 00 at 1830 hours. Twelve cadets will serve as honor guards/guides for this activity. The first day of school will be Friday, 18 August 2000.

27 SEPTEMBER 2000

Our Return of Colors, Commissioning, and Special Saber Dedication will be held 27 September 2000. Sixteen Cadets will be commissioned and promoted to Second Lieutenant. Parents will be involved in the commissioning and each parent will present a Saber to be used by each cadet to consummate their commissioning. The Return of Colors will be conducted by the Battalion Command Sergeant Major, Cadet CSM Maria Perez, the Honorary Cadet Colonel, Miss. Letejal Daniels, assisted by 1SG Gerald Ryans, Military Department Army Instructor. The Special Saber Dedication will be in Honor of Two World War II Veterans, (Deceased) Mr. J. M. Anderson, and Mr. John E. Creech. Mr. Creech is the father of Miss Nina Creech, PE coach and Softball Coach. CSM Cartagena will be awarded the Legion of Merit for his Army Service by Colonel Peter Farrell based upon his retirement 30 June 2000.
Special Honored Guests attending will be former Congressman Bo Ginn and Lieutenant General (Ret) Donald E. Rosenblum, former Commander of the 24th Infantry Division and Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia.

1 OCTOBER 2000

Ninety-six cadets, Major Price, CSM Cartagena, 1SG Ryans, three parents, and two bus drivers took a field trip to Atlanta to watch the Braves get beat by the Colorado Rockies. It was a terrible loss for the Braves but a great field trip for the Cadets. Fun was had by all.

7 OCTOBER 2000

On 7 October 2000, Major Price, CSM Cartagena, 1SG Ryans, 88 Cadets, 5 parents, and 61 NCO's from Fort Gordon participated in a fund raiser for the Musketeer Battalion. This fund raiser was for the International Paper Corporation and the cadets performed in an outstanding manner. Fun Company of Atlanta was very pleased with our performance the cadets enjoyed themselves!

12 October 2000

on this date, Major Price will conduct the practice for the Homecoming Assembly, fourth period, to be conducted the sixteenth of October.
The Cadets will have an eight person saber arch, four honor guards, and 10 male escorts for the homecoming court. All cadets will eat first lunch and then report to the GYM.

16 October 2000

The homecoming assembly will be conducted at 8:00 A.M. with those cadets who practiced on the 12th participating. The escorts will be wearing Winter Uniform, white shirts, and bow ties.

Ms. Camile Hardy will conduct classes all day for the JROTC Fund Raiser kick-off.

19 October 2000

Major Price will conduct the Homecoming Game Half-Time activities program after school at 2:45 P.M., at the football stadium. Saber Arch, Color Guard, and four honor guard members must be present.

21 October 2000

Homecoming Halftime program will be performed by the cadets who practiced 19 October 2000. Major Price will be the Announcer for this half-time program.

December 2000

The Corps of Cadets participated in two Christmas Parades,
Columbia County and Richmond County.

January 2001

After returning from Christmas break, the first semester ended with approximately 20 cadets getting out of JROTC and
approximately 20 new students coming into the Corps. The strength of the Corps is now approximately 210.

February 2001

This month, on the 17th, the Richmond County schools that have JROTC conducted the annual Grand Military Ball at Fort Gordon, Georgia. It was huge success. Our Honorary Cadet Colonel, Miss Letajal Daniels was escorted by our Battalion Commander, LTC Brandon Brantley and her BIO was read by Miss
Christy Cox, an English Teacher at the Academy. Miss Cox served as the mistress of ceremonies for the Grand Ball. The Corps of Cadets had over 165 Cadets and guests attend.

March 2001

This month started with us running to keep up with all the action. We had the Area Four Drill Competition on the 3rd, and we have placed four teams in the State Competition that will be conducted on the 24th in Macon. Our Annual inspection is on the 14th and Major Thomas McFarland from Harlem High School, and Captain Casher from Fort Gordon will inspect the Corps. All Cadets will be inspected in ranks for uniform correctness and general military knowledge to include the current chain of command. The LET-4'S will present a command briefing. One platoon from each company will be required to perform a drill routine.

Our own Grand Military Ball will be conducted on the 30th of this month and will honor Mr. Gerald Buckner, former principal of the Academy. The new honorary cadet Colonel for school year 2001-2002 will be crowned. Miss Mollie Baldwin, Choral Director at the Academy will be the Mistress of ceremonies. Mr. Joe Pearson, Mr. "1000 Watts" will provided the Music and we will have a buffet. All JROTC SPONSORS, TOP TEN, and selected cadets will perform in the GRAND MARCH!


Update 06 March by Major Price, SAI!