What’s New with the Blue Devil Battalion?
By JROTC Cadet Janessa Thomas; JROTC PAO
A New School Year
After 9 years of Instructing the JROTC program alongside our Sergeant First Class (retired) Ronald O’Bryon, Army Instructor, our former Senior Army Instructor Sergeant Major (retired) Rudy Carter has retired from his teaching career at Winter Haven Senior High School. Using the knowledge and skills he acquired with his 22 years of serving in the United States Military, he spends his time giving back to the community and instructing future generations. With open arms the Winter Haven JROTC program welcomes Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Kevin Reeves, Senior Army Instructor, to the Blue Devil Battalion. LTC Kevin T. Reeves was born in Dothan, AL to Jimmy and Johnnie Mae Reeves. He is a 1999 graduate of Troy University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. He was commissioned through the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps into the Signal Corps and branched detailed to the Armor Corp.
Senior Night
The time has come for a bittersweet end to an amazing group of our JROTC seniors for the 2020-2021 school year. As a way to commemorate the soon to be graduates of Winter Haven Senior High School our teams ranging from JROTC, band, and our varsity football team walk with family and relatives in recognition for their achievements academically and physically. “Senior Night was fun, and I had a great time walking with my family. Many parents were proud of what their students accomplished” said cadet Garrett Dibling. After years of dedication to the program and contributing to many mass events and fundraising occasions it is with a heavy heart, we wish our seniors to have a prosperous future leading the future generation. As a farewell and a thank you from the program to our seniors Reenie Allen, Fenil Barot, Garrett Dibling, Lilicea Milne, Marc Morales, Abriana Palma, Da’Nyra Richardson, and Yaaziel Rodriguez.
Cadet Garrett Dibling seen walking with his family representing the JROTC program.
Homecoming Football Game
The centra of team spirit heavily circulates around the annual homecoming football game at Winter Haven High. The rowdy stands and adrenaline filled football team are all catalysts to the energy that circulates around the stadium the entirety of the night. Our JROTC program every year puts together a team composed of exemplary cadets to represent the school for ceremonial events conducted by the school. The team itself presents the homecoming court to the stadium full of students and countless suporters. Our saber team was composed of Cadets Mitchell Villanueva, Da’Nyra Richardson, Gabriel Vazquez-Sanchez, Harry Joseph, Genevieve Walker, Bryson Govey, Edwin Lugo, Yazziel Rodriguez, Omeara Hadley, Fenil Barot, and Joshua Johnson. All are pristine cadets that show tremendous amounts of potential and dedication to any task they are given. “Joining JROTC was the best decision I’ve made. I say this because I get to do amazing things like being a part of saber team and be a part of the work force used for football games” says Cadet Da’ Nyra Richardson. Along with input by Cadet Edwin Lugo “After getting on the field and holding my saber up, I felt amazing and proud to be on the saber team this year”.
) A singular squad from the Saber Team standing prepared to present their sabers.
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