Practicing since his sophomore year, senior Alex Schubert pursues his dream of becoming a military officer and serving his country. Loading a gun, shooting a riffle, taking orders, yelling “sir, yes sir”, dropping to give the commanding officer push ups, wearing camouflage, and risking the lives of himself and people around him is the life that he longs for.
Schubert was sitting in his third grade class on September 11, 2001, when the attack on the twin towers happened. Ever since the shocking day, he has wanted to join the military.
“The attack of 9-11 is what influenced me to want to serve the country and protect my family and the people I care about,” Schubert said. “I will do what it takes to make that happen.”
Alex joined the JROTC program his sophomore year of high school and continues the program today. He would have enrolled in the course the year before if he knew what it was.
“I didn’t take it my freshman year because I was clueless about the program,” Schubert said.
JROTC, a program where students learn about college and the forces, teaches ways to achieve goals and become successful. This is a course taught by both Sgt. Law and Sgt. Smith.
“This program is not designed to recruit for military, air force, or navy,” JROTC instructor, Eric Smith said. “We constantly check grades and our focus is to help kids with graduation and being successful.”
Not only does he work out Tuesdays and Thursdays in JROTC, but also every day after school during his own free time. He feels working out more than required will shape and ready him more for the force.
“JROTC helps build my leadership and communications skills,” Schubert said. “It also helps me better myself in giving and receiving orders.”
He hopes to get a scholarship from either Texas A&M or Norwich University in Vermont, where he will take classes to become a military officer. Norwich speakers came to the JROTC class in order to teach students the importance of getting a degree and what to expect in the armed forces. Smith believes the speakers had a positive influence on the JROTC audience.
“I want to go to A&M because it has a great ROTC program and my grandfather, who served as a pilot and mechanical engineer in the airforce, went there,” Schubert said.
His parents and friends support his dream even though they would rather him do other things with his life.
“Like any mother, my mom would rather me be a lawyer or a musician,” Schubert said, “but my friends enjoy it and support me 100 percent.”
Alex’s JROTC instructor believes that Alex can do anything he sets his mind to.
“Alex is very smart and would be successful in whatever he does whether it be college or joining the forces,” Sgt. Smith said.
Kayla Kindley • Feb 16, 2011 at 11:48 am
yeah, my boyfriend’s pretty cool if i may say so myself. I’m proud. 🙂
Alex • Oct 20, 2010 at 8:38 pm
I love it!!! It rocks and my mommy loves it too!