The Military club provides students with an outlet of information for military life. “The purpose of this club is to present different views of the military, sharing events and real-life applications of what service can look like.” said History teacher and Military club advisor Katherine Devillasanta. Since there is no R.O.T.C. program offered, information is hard to come by for some students who are interested in pursuing that path. The Military club seeks to provide that and much more. “Many thought the club was R.O.T.C. which made it difficult to get some people to join the club.” said club president Kevin Lee, 11, “I wish more people knew that it is the goal of the club to express our interest in the military, and military history, as well as showing thanks to those who have served our country.”
The military often provides an assortment for career paths, ranging from engineering, logistical, medicine and computer science. “But this life isn’t for everyone, with heavy amounts of discipline and sacrifice.” said Devillasanta, “Hearing about this career choice from someone who went through it before can provide inspiration or clarity to the expectation of a military career path.”
This can be especially helpful for students who are going to Military Academies by connecting them with likeminded people. “Every member of the club has different aspects of the military they are interested in, such as military history or specific branches, which is great because there is never a shortage of new topics to learn about from one another.” said Lee.
The club also focuses on serving and honoring veterans in the community. “Members are encouraged to participate twice a year with the aiding of decorating the campus during Veterans Day and Memorial Day.” said Devillasanta, “Club members are encouraged to create events of volunteerism, both in and out of the school community, that better serve veterans.” Members are also incentivized to attend meetings and propose other projects or Veteran meet and greets. In the past, students have volunteered decorating the school with flags for Memorial Day, and layed blankets on Veterans’ graves at the Clayton’s Veterans Cemetery.
Future plans for the club include a variety of activities and projects. “We do have planned activities coming up, including veterans coming in to speak as well as a diorama, where students from US History could vote for a winner.” said Lee, “To try and build up some excitement for the diorama, I am offering up a cash prize to the winner, so I am very excited to see what they come up with!”
Learning from the lives and experiences of veterans can be insightful, for both aspiring military personnel and other students alike. “Anybody who has been in service has learned to adapt to stressful environments and situations,” said Lee. “Learning what they have done to overcome such struggles can be useful for anything you apply yourself to in life, whether it is a job or a simple college application.”
