We at FL-802 share a deep concern over the environment, and our cadets offered their time at the Oakland Nature Preserve to help make a difference. The Nature Preserve was in desperate need to have over a thousand bushels of wiregrass planted in order to promote healthy bushfires that the local ecosystem relies upon. Our unit sent over cadets on both the 31st of October and 7th of November to assist the Preserve in undertaking this effort. Pictured are cadets working tirelessly to plant the wiregrass.
Congratulations to our Honor Guard for taking home 5 trophies from the State Drill Championship! On Saturday, February 29th, our cadets travelled to the USF campus, where the event was being held. Our Honor Guard was able to place 2nd in drill regulation, 2nd in TC Color Guard, 2nd place for best Color Guard Commander (Marshall Ricketts), as well as taking home 1st (Brandon Santiago) and 3rd (Olivia Holton) place in IDR.
For many of the AFJROTC cadets at West Orange High School, one of the biggest highlights of every school year is the Air Force Ball. This event is an annual dance held every year during the third quarter and is planned extensively by the cadets. Excluding the task of handling money, everything required to get this event ready, from hiring a DJ to deciding on caterers is executed by the students. Even on the night of the Ball, the work of its organizers is far from over. Before the actual dancing, several ceremonies are held, both originating from both military and school traditions. These ceremonies include a color guard presenting the national colors during the national anthem sung by a cadet, a POW/MIA ceremony, words of wisdom from a guest speaker, and a saber detail to recognize the royal court. The court is a recognition of the two most beloved cadets of each grade and is decided through voting a week prior.
On Saturday, February 8th, cadets from West Orange High AFJROTC donated their time to
helping the Oakland Nature Preserve. The cadets were tasked with moving logs to help set boundaries of the trail as well as create burn piles. Many plants require wildfires to grow properly. However, humans often do what they can to prevent naturally occurring fires to ensure safety of their property. The piles that the cadets arranged are meant to help clear unnecessary brush and assist certain plants to grow. Thanks to the effort of the cadets of FL- 802, the Oakland Nature Preserve can have an easier time preserving Florida’s natural beauty. On January 17th, 2020 at West Orange High School the freshman of 2024 and their parent were exposed to different clubs and classes one of these classes was FL-802 AFJROTC, JROTC was one of the clubs around they were the first class to talk about their program to the parents and they opened it up with a saber team, a couple of rifles, exhibition team members. The Group Commander and Deputy Group Commander made a speech and played a video For the parent to watch. JROTC also was set up in the cafeteria and had members in uniform walking around answering any questions that the parents and incoming freshman had about JROTC Such as, “how many activities do you do?”, and “How do some of the scholarships work?” and clarified any misconceptions about JROTC. In December, AFJROTC cadets from West Orange High School volunteered to assist with the Christmas party held by UCP Elementary School. Cadets helped with setting up, serving food and beverages to the families, and putting all the decorations and leftovers away. The party was a great success, due in part to the hard work and spirit of giving displayed by the cadets.
On 26 September, 2019, Cadets from the unit marched in the West Orange High School Homecoming Parade on Plant street in Winter Garden. As FL-802 marched down Plant Street, they were the first to represent West Orange in the parade. Leading the way, they were welcomed with cheers as they marched past those who were there to support their school as the Homecoming dance approached.
Every home football game, Cadets from FL-802 volunteer to help park cars. By doing this, the cadets can assure the safety of others through directing traffic to different areas according to their needs. This helps with traffic, and it helps keep everyone safe.
Also, Color Guard is very important for every home game. A group of 4 cadets march onto the field before the kickoff and present the American flag, the state flag, and 2 rifles on the outside of the formation. Cadets from FL-802 came out to support our seniors at 0630 early Saturday morning. Cadets walked around asking the seniors who were painting if they needed help, and if they did, we helped! Some of the things we helped with was priming, painting, restocking paint, cleaning their brushes and anything else the seniors needed. It was a great opportunity for the new cadets to make new friends in and out of our unit.
Basic Cadet Training is a one week course that West Orange high school offers incoming cadets. They got an insight on what AFJROTC is really like. For example, they did Physical Training (PT), drill, team building, and got study periods to memorise the knowledge sheet. In order to graduate at the end of BCT to a higher rank you must pass the knowledge exam, and show that you can lead, serve, and dream. There is also a competition that runs throughout the whole week between 2 basic cadet teams (Alpha and Bravo) and at the end of the week it was determined that Alpha showed that they were the best flight.
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AuthorHello! I am Cadet Aryanna Sanchez; I am the head of Public Affairs. I write the stories that are put up on the website. Archives
April 2023
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