West Mifflin Area High School's Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps paid a surprise visit to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid's monthly meeting 8 p.m. Jan. 25.
In a gesture of respect and thanks, the students arrived 45 minutes early in full uniform and prepared a fine meal of homemade meatball sandwiches for the vets. Seven veterans helped mark the event by joining Intrepid, including Air Force Maj. Scott R. Harbula, senior instructor for the JAROTC cadets. Others falling in to the ranks of Post 914 were Donald W. Rottman, an Army Vietnam veteran, Alfred W. Lee, Navy-Marine Corps, Korea, Erwin Ernst Jr., Navy, Vietnam, Douglas W. Smith, Army, Vietnam, Robert W. Mitts Jr., Navy, Vietnam, and Willie E. Bennett, Army, Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"As veterans, we agree strongly with the objectives of JROTC - to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship, character and self-discipline," said Joe Popovich, VFW 914 commander. "The large number of cadets that have become involved in the program here in such a short period of time show how our young people in West Mifflin hold traditional values in high esteem."
According to Senior Master Sgt. Oreste DiCerbo, West Mifflin AFJROTC instructor, approximately 130 cadets are now involved with the local program. In addition to a core curriculum in leadership, cadets at West Mifflin study aerospace history and science, as well as participate in community activities including color guard performances, marching in parades, and helping non-profit organizations, as well as other activities such as the honor guard. The cadets regularly take field trips to Air Force bases, space centers, museums and other educational historical centers. They can also compete for scholarships and apply directly to senior ROTC programs and to military
academies.
The four-year AFJROTC program is available to 9th through 12th graders at WMAHS. Courses include the Frontiers of Aviation History, the Science of Flight, the Exploration of Space and Aerospace Science Options.
In other business, the post membership voted $200 to be donated in support of a request by West Mifflin English instructor Michele Capaccio for Brentwood Cares, a community organization that sends packages of donated items to servicemen overseas. Ms. Capaccio's brother, a Marine, is currently serving in Iraq.
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