JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas – Randolph High School joined a community of nearly 900 high schools worldwide on May 17, 2017. Over a hundred people attended Air Force Junior ROTC TX-20172’s activation ceremony and celebrated the enthusiasm, determination, and leadership that filled a void for Randolph Independent School District.
For years, the absence of a JROTC on one of the Air Force’s premier bases didn’t make sense to students, parents, and faculty alike.
“My son Carlos was disappointed when he heard that RHS didn’t offer ROTC,” said Bibi Perez. From September 2011- September 2014, Perez’s husband was stationed at Morón Air Base, Spain and her son Carlos Perez was bused to David Glasgow Farragut High School at Rota Naval Air Station each day. He loved being in the Navy junior ROTC program at DGF but his days were long, Perez said.
In preparation for their move back to Randolph, Perez began to network with RHS’s faculty and the senior aerospace science instructor at nearby Judson High School in Converse, Texas.
“I worked with RHS’s principal, Dr. Mark Malone, to pursue the topic with Judson High School. Once I got his permission, I was in Lt. Col. James Grace's office immediately. The next steps were simply connecting the parties to make it happen,” Perez said.
Including Carlos eight RHS students joined the JHS ROTC in 2014. That number more than doubled in 2015 and doubled again in 2016. According to RHS’s new senior aerospace science instructor, Col. James Costey the expected enrollment next year will double again to 80.
“I am convinced that the growth in participation was the key element in convincing the Air Force to support RHS as a viable AF JROTC unit and to expedite its activation,” Costey said.
The activation ceremony included the unfurling of the TX-20172’s colors and two changes of command.
“We realized the best way of thanking Cadet Colonel Perez was to ensure history reflected that he was the first commander of the cadet corps he worked so hard to bring about. But since he is leaving us for the Naval Preparatory School in route to becoming a Mid Shipman at Annapolis, his command will be one of the shortest on record,” Costey said.
Carlos addressed the assembly and recalled Malone’s enthusiasm, his mom’s support, and Grace’s leadership before Costey presided over the second change of command in less than an hour.
“I am very excited about the future of the TX-20172 and strongly believe Cadet Alexis Mazur will put this corps on the path to greatness,” Costey said. Mazur will be a senior at RHS next school year.
“I am sure the both of you are ready for the challenges that lay ahead. I am very excited to see what you both will accomplish in the next year.”