North Salem HS JROTC Team Participating in National-Level Leadership Symposium

The North Salem HS JROTC team includes Kayla Carreon, Richard Hawks, Lindsey Pounder, and Lisa Weltz. Their accomplishments are impressive and include participation in school and community organizations.

(FORT MONROE, Va.) - A team of four JROTC cadets from North Salem High School is one of only 36 chosen to attend the second annual George C. Marshall Junior ROTC Leadership Symposium on the campuses of Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., from October 12th through 14th.

The 144 team members participating in symposium activities will represent almost 277,000 students presently enrolled in 1,645 JROTC units throughout the United States and overseas where our military are stationed. Considering the numbers, cadets selected are truly the cream of the crop. The United States Army Cadet Command, headquartered here, will host the event with the George C. Marshall Foundation in Lexington. The theme of this year’s symposium is “The George C. Marshall Principles of Leadership—How They Apply to My JROTC Unit, School, Community and Life.” George C. Marshall, the symposium’s namesake, was the top cadet leader at VMI during his senior year and began his distinguished Army career after being commissioned a second lieutenant in 1902. He served in both world wars, most notably as Chief of Staff of the Army in World War II. After the war he served as Secretary of State and then Secretary of Defense during the Korean War. He is perhaps best known for developing the Marshall Plan, which ensured the economic recovery of war-devastated Europe. For this work, Marshall became the first career soldier to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Symposium organizers use his selfless service and leadership as an example for participating cadets. Because there were so few slots available for the symposium, JROTC instructors nominated only those cadets who went above and beyond school and program requirements for excellence in leadership and community service.

Besides hearing from prominent leaders during interactive presentations which sometimes put them in leadership roles, participants will tour several local attractions. Each will earn one college credit hour in leadership and community service. The North Salem HS JROTC team includes Kayla Carreon, Richard Hawks, Lindsey Pounder, and Lisa Weltz. Their accomplishments are impressive and include participation in school and community organizations. They have excelled scholastically while being involved in these extracurricular activities. JROTC has a mission to motivate young people to be better citizens by teaching leadership skills and encouraging community service. It is not a recruiting tool for the Army and is open to all students in high schools that have a program.