With steady hands and sharp focus, cadets in the Marine Corps JROTC marksmanship program at Fontana High School have learned that discipline and precision are more than just skills for hitting a target - they are lessons in leadership and perseverance.
ByCadets in Fontana High School's JROTC marksmanship program are learning more than target skills - they're also given life and leadership skills.With steady hands and sharp focus, cadets in the Marine Corps JROTC marksmanship program at Fontana High School have learned that discipline and precision are more than just skills for hitting a target - they are lessons in leadership and perseverance.
The success of the program, founded in 1991, is evident in the rows of awards, gleaming trophies and framed accolades lining the walls - each a testament to the dedication of its cadets. "It's really heavy on leadership, but we expose them to public service opportunities, community service. We teach them a lot of life skills," said Lt. Col. Denny Meelarp, Senior Marine Instructor. This year, Fontana High's marksmanship teams are ranked third and 10th as they prepare to compete in the Civilian Marksmanship Program Western Regionals, which is an elite event featuring 115 participants from 16 states. For Ana Porras, Aleen Castro and Stephanie Mendoza, earning top marks in the program is more than an achievement - it's an opportunity to push their limits on a national stage. "It is honestly something special because not everyone gets to go obviously and it was really nerve wracking trying to figure out if you get to go to nationals," said Porras, Cadet Major / Marksmen. The three cadets have trained tirelessly, mastering the art of precision shooting in three demanding positions - kneeling, prone and standing, while aiming at a target no bigger than a dime. Their dedication has shaped them into leaders, both on and off the range. "It shows me how to organize, how to interact with people when I need something done, and how to interact with people that are higher than me and lower than me," said Castro, Cadet Captain / Marksmen. "To be a marksman, you have to have a sense of responsibility because it is a lot of safety procedures you have to follow," said Mendoza, Cadet Captain/ Marksmen. While the program fosters military-ready discipline, there is no obligation to enlist. Instead, it prepares cadets with transferable skills that will serve them well in any career path. For Porras, Castro and Mendoza, military service isn't the path they plan to take after high school. But the discipline, confidence and resilience they've developed will stay with them as they pursue their futures - wherever they choose to aim.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Three arrested for using lottery scam to take $20,000 from elderly woman in FontanaThree people were arrested on Tuesday for their alleged part in a lottery scam that led to an elderly Fontana woman being scammed out of $20,000.
Read more »
Joan Fontaine’s Former Carmel Home Hits the Market for $6 MillionKnown as Villa Fontana, the Carmel home was occupied by the silver screen legend from the mid-1980s until her death in 2013.
Read more »
Marco Bicego Celebrates 25 Years With 25 Best Jewels Collection and New Ad Campaign Fronted by Isabeli FontanaMarking 25 years in business, Marco Bicego is launching a curated selection of its 25 bestselling jewels and the namesake founder said a new Milan store will open in June.
Read more »
Have You Seen This? Virginia Tech students, cadets engage in massive snowball fightVirginia Tech students and cadets engaged in a massive snowball fight after a recent snowfall, a tradition at the Blacksburg, Virginia, university.
Read more »
NASCAR figuring out if building new track in Fontana is the 'right thing to do'NASCAR says it doesn't want to abandon Southern California, but it isn't fully committing to building a short track on the former site of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.
Read more »
Anchorage police cadets burn rubber while training on Joint Base Elmendorf-RichardsonAnchorage Police Department recruits are burning rubber on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson as part of a weeklong Emergency Vehicle Operations Course in collaboration with JBER Security Forces.
Read more »