Photo By Michel Sauret | Brig. Gen. David L. Weeks (center), deputy commanding general of the 416th Theater...... read more read more
DARIEN, Ill. – The Marine junior cadets jumped to their feet in unison as the one-star general walked into the classroom.
Even something as ordinary as sitting was done on command.
“Take your seat,” the group leader called out.
Everyone did: In one motion.
“Very impressive,” Brig. Gen. David L. Weeks admitted.
He was full of praise for the Marine Corps. community and the cadets before his speech to the students.
Weeks is an Army Reserve general officer and deputy commander of the 416th Theater Engineer Command, headquartered in Darien, Ill.
About an hour’s drive from his headquarters, he spent the morning with junior cadets at the Marine Math and Science Academy (MMSA) High School in Chicago.
“This is the future of the nation right here,” Weeks said later in an interview. “What we need to do, as citizens of the nation, [is] all we can to support our youth in their quest for moving forward in their careers.”
Despite the intimidating star on his chest, Weeks was lighthearted with the kids, often joking about his Louisiana accent, being a native of Tallulah, La. He wasn’t afraid to discuss squirrel hunting, and even offered to share a recipe for a squirrel stew if anybody wanted it.
Nobody raised a hand at the offer.
When a student asked how many places he’d visited around the world, Weeks quickly ran out of fingers to keep count.
“He completely changed my mind,” said Cadet Staff Sgt. Israel Mendoza about the demeanor of a general officer. “It’s like being able to talk to someone you respect, but in a way you don’t feel so uncomfortable.”
His presentation focused on the 416th TEC’s global mission and the importance of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as a pathway to stable, leading careers in the U.S.
“It’s the future of our nation,” Weeks said concerning STEM.
STEM is an aggressive educational effort to promote skills and studies that lead to stable careers. Currently in the U.S. there are more STEM-based job opportunities than graduating students who qualify for them. Currently only 44 percent of high school graduates are ready for college-level courses in math, and 36 percent in science.
Weeks praised the academy for making this field a priority. MMSA students are required to take an extra year of Math and science compared to other public schools, plus courses geared toward college readiness skills.
Everyone who graduated from MMSA in 2013 received college acceptance letters. The school’s graduation rate is approximately 10 percent higher than the rest of the Chicago Public Schools’ average.
Students asked questions about his career path to becoming a general, and were generally impressed by how involved the Reserve is in the community and in other nations.
“We don’t just blow things up,” Weeks said to the cadets at one point.
From community construction projects in the States, to national defense support, to international humanitarian aid missions and training with coalition partners in South America, Canada and the Middle East, the Reserve’s mission exceeded most of the students’ expectations.
“I learned that the Reserve [does] a lot more for the community than I previously thought. I thought they just went to basic training for a couple of weeks and then went back home. But he brought it to our attention that they do more than that. They actively help within the community and help to better the nation,” said Cadet Maj. Jourdan Roberson, a high school senior.
This is the second time this year a general officer from the 416th TEC visited JROTC cadets. In March, Maj. Gen. David Conboy, the TEC’s commander, visited Carver Academy to promote STEM.
It is part of the Army Reserve’s initiative to be actively involved with the community. The 416th TEC has been involved in educational outreach, family programs, USO events, veteran groups and service opportunities in the past, and will continue to do so in the future.
“It’s nice that he can take time out of his busy schedule being a general to come and talk to the students. I mean this is the first time I’ve ever met a general. So this is amazing for me, and I’d like to guess for my fellow cadets,” Roberson said.
| Date Taken: | 04.07.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.07.2014 16:36 |
| Story ID: | 124741 |
| Location: | CHICAGO, IL, US |
| Hometown: | TALLULAH, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 204 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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