Each fall, the Poughkeepsie High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, or AFJROTC, holds a meet and greet event.
The event is a chance for the cadets to be honored for their accomplishments in front of invited family, friends and members of the school community.
“It’s very significant,” said Cadet 2nd Lt. Adel Rogers, a senior. “The awards and ribbons we give out are to acknowledge returning cadets and sometimes some first-year cadets, who have done things either last year or over the summer.”
Many of the school’s dozens of cadets were honored in this year’s edition, held at the high school’s cafeteria Oct. 11, which included a change of command ceremony, awards and promotions.
Promotions ranged from Cadet Senior Airman to Cadet Lieutenant Colonel. Some awards included the Longevity, and Health and Wellness ribbon, the Cadet Leadership Course ribbon, the Drill Team ribbon and others that went to some cadets who attended a JROTC camp during the summer.
Some of the cadets were honored in individual promotion ceremonies, others were called to the front and received handshakes and congratulations from squadron instructors, and other groups of cadets stood up at their tables to be recognized.
“Awards, decorations and promotions are a large part of the AFJROTC program,” Chief Mary Wagner said. “It gives an opportunity for the cadets to shine and be recognized for their hard work and dedication to the program.”
The awards included an honor never before bestowed in their squadron.
Cadet Lt. Col. Salome Vergara earned the Distinguished Cadet Badge.
In order to receive it, Wagner said a cadet must have already received the Leadership, Superior Performance, Achievement, Academic, Leadership Development Requirement and Service ribbons. But, outside of requirements, Wagner spoke glowingly of Vergara’s accomplishments and impact on the group. Academically, Vergara is ranked second in the senior class, led the Drill Team in its first competition in five years, and created additional community service events to allow the squadron to exceed its goal of 1,000 community service hours during the 2023-24 year.
“Her dedication and devotion to the AFJROTC program has been proven many times,” Wagner said. “Cadet Vergara consistently demonstrates a positive attitude and is always encouraging the cadets to do the same.”
Rogers said Vergara was “quiet as a mouse” as a freshman. The AFJROTC program changed that.
“For me, ROTC is like something really special,” Vergara said. “I think it depends on the person. It depends on how you use it. In my experience, it’s more like a family. It’s not like a class, because of what you get out of it.
“It really changes your life if you’re involved in it,” she said.
