While most students were enjoying the end of their summer vacation, the Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) supported our community as well as Michigan City Area Schools (MCAS).
The cadets worked at the Grand Prix boat races at the Washington Park Beach on August 5 and 6 and the Drum Corps International competition at Ames Field on August 7 and 8. For MCAS, the cadets assisted at the chrome book issue at MCHS on August 3, 4 and 9, the preparation for the Back-To- School rally on August 8 and 9, and the rally itself on August 10. For the summer, the cadets supported 17 different events totaling over 800 community service hours.
“Our cadets were very busy this summer,” said Senior Marine Instructor Major Tom McGrath. “Besides the community service, we conducted a week-long leadership camp in Wisconsin, participated in a week-long Cyber camp at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, and had one of our cadets attend the National MCJROTC Senior Leadership Camp in Missouri.”
Master Sergeant Jeff Benak, the Marine Instructor, commented on the dedication of the cadets. “When most of their peers are relaxing on the beach or doing back to school shopping, our cadets are sacrificing their time to support our school and community. That is a strong statement as to the high quality of students we have at MCHS.”
The cadets will not break stride once the school year starts. Among the events that they will support in August are: Color Guards for the Superintendent’s address to MCAS faculty and staff on August 14 and the first home football game on August18; assist in the MCHS Freshmen Orientation on August 15; and support a veterans’ rally at Fox Park in LaPorte on August 26. Additionally, they will conduct a military drill clinic at MCHS on August 19.