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The BHS JROTC Lumberjack Battalion recognized their Top Performers on April 26, 2023 at 1300 in the BHS auditorium. This ceremony allows us to recognize and reward the hard work and dedication that our cadets exhibit on a daily basis. The senior quote for this year’s senior class was “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” – Vince Lombardi
Awards are earned by the cadets through their hard work, physical fitness, and demonstrated leadership. There are many awards and decorations that are made available to JROTC from organizations such as the American Legion Post 24, The Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, Daughters of the American Revolution and many others that support us throughout the Community and State of Louisiana and we are fortunate to have them.
The first award given out during the ceremony is the Superior Cadet Award. This decoration is one of the highest given and comes from the U.S. Army Cadet Command, Fort Knox, KY. Each year we select one cadet from each LET level of JROTC to receive this award. This year’s recipients are: LET I – Jodie Knight, LET II – Elizabeth Van Damme, LET III – Gregory Brown, and LET IV – Rosa Martinez. We were honored to have Mr. Bob Ricca representing Knights of Columbus Assembly 2206. He presented the Patriotic award to Cadet Owen McCain and the Patriotic Academic Award to Cadet Captain Ka’Jeruna Harry.
Another award earned by the seniors is the Presidential Volunteer Service Award in recognition and appreciation for their commitment to strengthen our nation and communities through volunteer service. Each awardee that earns over 100 hours of community service will receive a letter from the President of the United States, Certificate and the Bronze, Silver, or Gold medallion based on the number of hours they have earned. This year we had five seniors earn the Bronze Medallion, seven earn the Silver Medallion and 1 earned the Gold Medallion. The cadet is authorized to wear their medallion at graduation.
Some other awards that are given through the JROTC program can be medals, ribbons, plaques, graduation cords or stoles, and military cords for branch of service that the cadet is joining. A big award that we give is recognizing one cadet in each LET level for their outstanding performance and dedication to the Lumberjack Battalion. They receive an eagle plaque thanking them for their service to the program. This year’s recipients were LET I – Ishanteara Varnado, LET II – Rodney Gill, LET III Gregory Brown, and LET IV – Skyler Keys. Every year at the very end of the ceremony we bring the new Battalion and Company Leadership and Staff forward. This is one of the excitements that the Cadets look forward to because they are hoping they are in one of those key positions.
This year we did something new at the end of the ceremony. Because the cadets are usually sworn in at MEPS in New Orleans and the parents are not always able to be there this allowed them the opportunity to be sworn in by the Recruiting Commander Captain Deanna Cass of The New Orleans Recruiting Command.
We also have two cadets going into the Navy: Sae’Briona Anderson & Mariah Myles and one cadet going into the Marine Corps: Truman Brown. Congratulations and safe journey to all of them that have chosen to service their country.