DELTA FLIGHT Wins Outstanding Flight of the Year for AY2015-2016!!

Congratulations to DELTA FLIGHT for being named the Outstanding Flight of the Year for 2015-2016!  This award is presented at the end of the year and recognizes the Top Flight that works as a team to excel in AFJROTC academics (Aerospace Science/Leadership Education), health & wellness, uniform wear, personal appearance, attendance, involvement in extracurricular activities, and drill competition. Each cadet in the flight is awarded the Outstanding Flight Ribbon and their official JROTC records have already been updated to reflect this honor. Outstanding Effort Delta!!  

AL-071 HHS AFJROTC Wins Outstanding Organization Award for AY2015-2016!

Congrats to ALL current HHS AFJROTC cadets for being recognized by Headquarters JROTC as an Outstanding Organization Award winner for Academic Year 2015-2016.  

The criteria and nomination process were rigorous.  As a consequence of our superior cadet performance supporting Homewood City Schools, the Air Force and the local community, AL-071 was provided a congratulatory letter from JROTC Headquarters and a certificate of recognition has been permanently placed in WINGS.  ALL cadets are authorized to wear the Outstanding Organization Award ribbon, depicted below, effective immediately.  Job well done Cadets!!

Congratulations to our final Cadets of the Quarter!

A well-deserved congratulations are due our Cadets of the Quarter for the 4th Quarter of Academic Year 2015-2016!  The selectees are:

Alpha - Shelby Hardy

Bravo - Ben Galloway

Charlie - Bryan Arteaga

Delta - Trea Frizzle 

Senior Cadets "Survive" Botanical Hike

On April 29, 2016, the senior class joined by experts from the B'ham Botanical Gardens took a period-long hike on the trail that runs adjacent to Armory Road, next to Homewood High School's campus. During the excursion we learned about various edible & poisonous plants, as well as the history of the land being preserved.

The Arrowhead Ginger plant pictured above left, not only emits a very pleasant fragrance, it is also a safe plant to eat raw in order to gain calories/energy if you ever find yourself in a survival situation. Our botanist experts also highlighted that "generally", trees that have a smooth, grey barks can provide a survivor a readily edible source of fruits & nuts (pictured above right).

Cadets Stand Ready for their Final Inspection

On Tuesday, April 12th, the Homewood AFJROTC cadets were given a final inspection to assess the cadets' uniforms. Samford's AFROTC sent three of their cadets to carry out the inspection that includes the state of the uniform itself, as well as the cadet's haircut and stature while at attention, as seen above, and in parade rest. We are very proud of our cadets for their resilience that has held up even till the end of the school year. AIM HIGH!

Cadets Earn Orienteering Ribbon

Four adventurous HHS cadets earned the AF JROTC Orienteering Ribbon for their participation in a March 12th orienteering meet at Oak Mountain State Park.  Cadets Mike Barber, Hunter Bryant, Baylee Sanford & Carter Wagner combined efforts to complete the intermediate-level course in less than three hours--displaying excellent teamwork & physical/mental perseverance.  Super effort gentlemen!

Congrats to Our Cadets of the Quarter for the 3rd Quarter

Congratulations to our cadets of the quarter for the 3rd 9 weeks:

Alpha

C. Clever

Bravo

C. Bawcum

Charlie

H. Essix

Delta

A. Molina

HHS JROTC 1st, 2nd & 3rd Period Classes Rally for Quarterly PALS Campus Cleanup

Approximately 90 HHS JROTC cadets from the first 3 lesson periods came out in force to do some serious damage cleaning up our HS campus this past Friday, March 11th. All tolled, we filled 13 bags of garbage, placing the debris were it belongs...in trash containers and not all over school grounds. The trash consisted mostly of discarded drinking bottles and fast-food containers.

Top Left: Cadets Tye Lowe, Logan Bales, Daralyn Rasberry and Summer Bridges show a small portion of the trash that was collected.

The lesson learned is that it is everybody's responsibility to keep our campus clean AND with just a bit of effort every quarter, a group of solid citizens can make a big difference in the beautification of our campus and the surrounding area....GREAT JOB CADETS!!!

HHS Cadets Take Flight With Local Alabama Civil Air Patrol

HHS AFJROTC cadets Pierre Jones and Dorian Harris experienced the wonders of flight today when they both flew with the Shelby County Airport's Civil Air Patrol, instructed by Lt Col (Ret) Austin Landry.  Each cadet flew the Cessna 182 for approximately 45 minutes while at the flight controls, and spent another 45 minutes airborne in the back seat observing.  They performed slow/steep turns, climbing, descending and instrument approach procedures to get a better understanding of the aerodynamics curriculum and an appreciation for aviation as a potential career field. These types of incentive flights will hopefully generate an interest in becoming a pilot, in either the military or as a civilian.  Col Landry relayed to the HHS chaperon that he was very impressed by both cadet's flying skills.  GREAT JOB PIERRE & DORIAN...WAY TO AIM HIGH!!

Department of State DVs Brief HHS Students on Career Opportunities

JROTC sponsored a career guidance brief provided by 3 Distinguished Visitors from the U.S. Department of State on February 11th. The guest speakers spoke with approximately 100 total students from various HHS grades during 3rd period in Bailey Theater.  They discussed career opportunities in the service of our Nation as a Foreign Service Officer, Specialist or Civil Service professional.  The 50-minute brief was followed by questions/answers, led by the keynote speaker Deputy Secretary of State for Human Resources, the Honorable Mr. Bruce Williamson.  

Seniors "Lead the Way" in HHS Campus Cleanup!

The 6th period Senior JROTC cadets were out in force today, picking up garbage on Armory Road as part of our AL PALS (People Against A Littered State) effort.  Leading by example, they had a fun time contributing directly to our annual cadet corps' goal of giving back to the Homewood Community and promoting esprit de corps.  WELL DONE SENIORS!!

 

Cadets Awarded Dress and Appearance Ribbon

Congratulations to 59 CADETS in our corps who were awarded the Dress and Appearance Ribbon for wearing their uniforms every uniform day and having a 96% average in uniform dress and appearance grades. We, the Senior Staff, are very proud of our cadets and hope to see more meet the standard in the final semester of the 2015-2016 school year.

HHS Cadets Earn AFJROTC Health & Wellness Ribbon

Congratulations to ALL HHS cadets for earning the AFJROTC Health & Wellness Ribbon for the 1st Semester, AY2015-2016.  We, as a 125-strong cadet corps, had ZERO failures in the fitness program this past Semester.  In fact, several HHS cadets ranked in the Top 25% of the President's Physical Fitness Program (based upon National-level criteria).

ALL cadets are authorized to wear the ribbon immediately on their AF Blue Uniform (see ribbon).

Master Sergeant Simmons and Colonel  Paul are justifiably PROUD OF EACH OF YOU...as you should be of each other.  Keep up the superb fitness effort and let's push for an even stronger and healthier Second Semester cadets!!

2nd 9-Weeks Cadets of the Quarter

We are proud to recognize our newest Cadets of the Quarter, for the 2nd Quarter of AY2015-2016!  Congratulations to...

Alpha - Roger Castro

'

Bravo - Bianca Juarez

Charlie - Carter Wagner

Delta - Baylee Sanford

Honor Guard Cadets Perform Flag Folding at Alabama Power Luncheon

This past Monday cadets joined the Energizers, a fundraising committee of retired Alabama Power employees, at the Energizer Christmas Luncheon. Our cadets performed the color guard and flag folding accompanied by the saber team in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. The cadets were treated to brunch and stayed to sing Christmas carols with the Energizers.

Check out the cadets getting into the Christmas spirit! (Link to Video)

Cadets Rally for Quarterly PALS Campus Cleanup

Cadets Bailey Compton, Sarahi & Ivan Aguilera, Roger Castro, Frankie Robledo, Joseph Ingram, Alex Matthews and Ethan Sherman from 1st Period JROTC "rallied" to cleanup Armory Road on a rather chilly (30 degree) Friday December 4th morning.  This effort is part of the corps' quarterly & annual goals to partner with the HHS Environment Club as teammates supporting the State of Alabama PALS (People Against a Littered State) campaign.

In the course of just 45 minutes, they accumulated 2+ full bags of debris along the 1 mile route connecting Homewood High with Old Montgomery Highway.  Disappointingly, most of the debris picked up was undoubtedly tossed out of the vehicles of their fellow Patriot students on their way to and from the high school.  By tidying up the road, these 8 cadets clearly made a significant contribution toward beautifying the environment for the local plants and animals.
  
Small, selfless efforts such as this can make a BIG difference if everyone at Homewood High were to follow these cadets' lead on a more regular basis.  WELL DONE LADIES & GENTLEMEN...way to demonstrate excellent leadership and citizenship by personal example!!!

Cadets Castro & Elizalde Earn Orienteering Ribbon

On this sunny, cool Saturday at Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City, HHS cadets Roger Castro and Leo Elizalde endured a 3+ hour hike in the woods which earned them the right to wear the coveted AFJROTC Orienteering Ribbon.  Both cadets braved "attack trees", water hazards, small vermin, and each other to navigate a grueling intermediate-level course.

Despite being the first land navigation competition for both of them, they successfully navigated the course and completed it well within the 4-hour maximum time limit. Although, there appeared to be periods of resting and reflection while they were hiking (see pic)

Several fellow rivals who are decade-long orienteering competitors commented how impressed they were by both Roger and Leo who in their words "performed exceptionally on a particularly tough course."  In fact, the second place winner took time after the competition during a chili bowl snack to instruct both of them on how to do better next go-around...in hopes they'll continue this athletic endeavor throughout this season and beyond.


KUDOS TO LEO & ROGER for highlighting the athletic and intellectual ability of our cadet corps at this outdoor event.  For those wishing to follow in their footsteps, the next Alabama-hosted orienteering competition is slated for 19 December 2015 at Oak Mountain State Park.  If interested in attending, contact Col Paul or MSgt Simmons for details or view info on the local orienteering club's web site @ http://vulcanorienteering.org. Orienteering is loads of fun, hard work but it pays off with reward of a ribbon and a lifelong memory!!

November 7, 2015 Field Trip to Pensacola Airshow

HHS AFJROTC 7 NOVEMBER TRIP TO PENSACOLA AIRSHOW

   On Saturday, November 7th, approximately 70 cadets accompanied by 5 adult supervisors traveled to Pensacola, Florida for the annual Blue Angels "Homecoming" Airshow.   In addition to touring multiple static display aircraft from multiple Services and civilian agencies, the cadets had a "ring side" seat to view the Blue Angels, the premier demonstration team from the U.S Navy.  The Blue Angels fly the F-18 Hornet fighter aircraft, the same aircraft currently deployed overseas in support of U.S. vital interests.  The drive to and back to Pensacola from Homewood was long but well worth the effort.  Below are but a few of the pictures taken by cadets during the event.  We look forward to participating in future airshows in 2016! 

Blue Angels "Diamond Formation" low-level pass 

Blue Angels in a two-ship "dirty pass"

Below, Cadets Daralyn Raspberry& David Barco enjoy the F-18D static display

Cadet Rasberry pirched below a USN F-18F two-seat fighter

Cadets Jorge Villanueva & Bianca Juarez pose alongside a USN Blue Angel demonstration plane

Overall--it was a GREAT TIME and a GREAT SHOW!

1st 9-Weeks, Cadets of the Quarter

Congratulations First Annual Cadet of the Quarter Winners!

Alpha Flt: Leo Elizalde  

 Bravo Flt: Luciano Villa

Charlie Flt: Joseph Tucker

Delta Flt: Rene Elizalde

*All cadets listed are now nominees for The Cadet of the Semester Award and will compete head-to- head later on this year for the prize*

AFJROTC Events Update

The cadets at Homewood High School (HHS) AFJROTC have been working hard through the summer and the first nine weeks this school year.  In June, 9 cadets attended the JCLC JROTC at Fort McClellan. This camp was a 5 day mini-camp where cadets got to experience a mock military boot camp. Cadets learned valuable leadership skills as well as built friendships with other JROTC cadets around the state of Alabama. Pictured below is Cadet Michael Barber crossing a rope bridge in a ropes course class at the JCLC camp.

Later in the Summer, 6 of our cadets on the Honor Guard performed a flag folding ceremony for Oliver Robinson's Alabama Black Achievers Awards Gala. Featured below are HHS Cadets Ivan Aguilera, Jorge Aguilera, Bianca Juarez, Mike Hawkins, Mikaela Harris, and Killian Faulk with Jessica Tolbert.

HHS AFJROTC Cadets also performed a Color Guard ceremony for a Samford University home football game!  Below is Cadet Roger Castro with the University's Mascot and the Color Guard that performed at the game.

Approximately 50 total Senior and Freshmen cadets went to the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center for a field trip in September 2015. Cadets got to tour the museum and learn about the NASA space program.

On September 26th, several of our cadets partnered up with the HHS Environmental Club to clean up Shades Creek.  Below is a picture of the cadets after the cleanup...we made a HUGE impact!