JROTC Conducts 99th Fall Review

James C. Fischer, PhD Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired)
September 15, 2017

Over 220 members of the Corps of Cadets displayed their skills in military drill and ceremony on Wingerd Field on September 14, at the southern edge of the campus on an unseasonably warm day for the Fall Review.

The review has several basic elements which mirror customs dating back to the Middle Ages. First, the Corps march onto the field and aligns itself in preparation for the challenges ahead. Following an invocation, the Reviewing Officer inspects the formation to assess its readiness. Once the organization has rendered honors to the nation, new team members who have demonstrated exceptional potential receive awards. After the Reviewing Officer provides some inspirational remarks, the entire Corps marches past the audience to publicly demonstrate their commitment to the leadership opportunities in the year ahead.

The Reviewing Officer, Mr. Brian McMahon, spoke to the Corps about the importance of leadership in their communities and for their future. McMahon is the current Chair of the school’s Board of Directors and a past President of the Ramsey County Bar Association. He is a 1987 graduate of Cretin High School and former senior officer in JROTC.

Each year, training for the Review is the senior class’s first practical leadership exercise. With guidance from the instructors, they take the responsibility for preparing the 9th graders for the parade and for their roles in the Corps.

This year’s review is particularly notable because it kicked off the celebration of the centennial of JROTC at Cretin and now Cretin-Derham Hall. Back in 1917, the high school’s director invited Minnesota National Guard instructors to teach close order drill to the students and the military program has been an integral part of the school ever since. For the pass in review portion of the parade, all alumni were invited to march past the podium as they had when they were members of the Corps years before. Over 25 graduates stepped onto the field and showed the crowd they could still stay in step. There will be several other commemorative parades over the next twelve months.

JROTC is a leadership and citizenship program that uses practical military models to teach young people how to work with others, serve their community, and make healthy choices. The program at Cretin-Derham Hall is one of the oldest and most highly decorated in the United States.