Going back to school always means grabbing backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and calculators. However, for Silver Bluff High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) “Devil Dogs” cadets, going back to school for the 2017-18 school year has also meant grabbing gloves, rakes, trash bags, bug spray and volunteer shirts.
In addition to the academic coursework and military structure associated with an NJROTC program, another engaging element for cadets remains community service. The mission of the Silver Bluff High School NJROTC program is to develop responsible, civic-minded young adults who are ready to assume leadership roles within their community.
"As a former naval officer, while I recognize that not everyone can or will serve the nation by wearing a uniform, first responders, teachers, government officials, and many everyday citizens also heed a higher calling to serve and freely give of their time and their skills,” stated Silver Bluff NJROTC Senior Naval Science Instructor and Commander Brian Goldschmidt, USN (ret.). “These community projects are an opportunity for our students to get a sense of what service is, what it means, and how it affects the community. This is just the first of many events we will be a part of this year, and we are looking for more. As long as our parents allow their kids to participate, we'll be in the community finding ways to help."
At Silver Bluff, cadets participate in leadership opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom. Within the NJROTC structure, the classroom setting centers on an academic syllabus, physical education, and a leadership laboratory. Outside the classroom, cadets enjoy extracurricular activities such as field trips, competitive events, and community service. The goal of the program is to instill in students the importance of civics, service, and citizenship.
This year, the Silver Bluff NJROTC Devil Dogs is a unit comprised of approximately 85 students who have set a goal of completing 1,000 hours of community service. One project new to the program this year is a partnership with the city of Jackson. Through this effort, the Devil Dogs help maintain the city park named after Robert T. Thornton, a long time Jackson resident.
In September, Silver Bluff cadets arrived at 8:00 a.m. on a Saturday and spent the morning picking up trash, raking leaves, and removing rubbish from the grounds, leaving a much cleaner and safer environment for Jackson families utilizing the city park.
"We gave up a part of our Labor Day weekend because we understand the importance of giving back to the community,” stated Silver Bluff Cadet Seaman Apprentice Kaya Hall. “I grew up playing in this very park, and now we are keeping it up so kids can keep using it. As students, giving up a few hours of a long weekend for the benefit of others is just a good thing to do."
Another new Silver Bluff cadet partnership this year is with the Augusta IRONMAN 70.3. On Sunday, September 24, starting at 5:30 a.m., two dozen Devil Dog volunteers arrived to serve as spotters along the race swim course. Their primary role was to help maintain safety along the 1.2-mile swim course for the 3,000 race participants. To date, the SBHS NJROTC Devil Dogs have completed 316 hours of community service towards their overall goal of 1,000 during the 2017-18 school year.
For more information about the Silver Bluff NJROTC program, or to collaborate with the Devil Dogs on a future event, please contact Commander Brian Goldschmidt, USN (retired) at bgoldschmidt@acpsd.net.