Five platoons stand at perfect attention, uniforms neatly pressed and firm stances. Robinson’s JROTC, or Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, corps have been drilling for this event since the beginning of this school year. Every year, JROTC corps across the country have an annual military inspection. This is an event that showcases the discipline, poise and leadership that JROTC has worked on as a unit.
Area 7 commander Patrick Thurman led the inspection, taking note of each cadets’ uniform and how they stood as a unit. One by one, he addressed each of them to hear their experience in JROTC and asked them questions related to it. First period platoon leader, armed and unarmed drill captain, and public affairs officer Kaly Mabe (’25) describes the process in more detail.
“We hold an AMI (annual military inspection), and we have the area manager come out. Every platoon will get inspected including the leadership and staff,” Mabe said.
Besides inspecting the cadets individually, the commander also watched them march to demonstrate their orderliness and conduct.
“From there, we do a pass and review,” Mabe explained. “We march in a square and salute the commanding officer.”
Mabe comments further on why annual military inspections matter so much to the unit and what it gives the cadets.
“It shows us, and even our school and our unit, what we could do and what we know,” she said. “Our knowledge, our drill, how good our uniforms are, how clean and neat we are, and when we are preparing drill and doing drill.”
Our JROTC corps passed their inspection with flying colors of course, but it couldn’t have been without the efforts of the unit as a whole. For now, they will focus on continuing to drill and prepare for next year’s annual inspection.