Photo by Leia Szpytek, Cypress Park HSEducation
Cypress Park’s inaugural Air Force JROTC takes its first flight
A High School Journalism Network collaboration By Camila Araujo, Cypress Park HS
The JROTC students at Cypress Park High School have taken flight into a new era for their program. For the first time in school history, the JROTC program is specializing in the Air Force branch.
Since 2016, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) students at Cypress Park have had to travel across the district to participate in the class, training and after-school activities. Now, Cypress Park has its own JROTC unit: Air Force JROTC TX-20266.
Led by Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Beasley and Master Sergeant David Williams, cadets will focus on developing their leadership, teamwork, accountability, physical fitness, citizenship, self-discipline and communication skills.
“They’re really eager to learn,” Williams said.
Beasley and Williams both had extensive careers in the Air Force. Beasley is entering his first year of teaching after more than 21 years of service. He served as a navigator/electronic warfare officer, instructor/evaluator, operations leader and senior commander, accumulating more than 2,200 flight hours. Earlier this year, he completed a fellowship with the Flight Operations Directorate at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Williams served 21 years in the Air Force in the Services career field and will be entering his eighth year of teaching AFJROTC. He joined the Cypress Park staff after most recently teaching AFJROTC at Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD.
“Hearing that our master sergeant came from another unit just provided so much relief, because it feels like we won’t be starting from scratch,” said Cypress Park senior Delaney Soriano. “He will be able to carry over the traditions and work ethic from the other schools.”
In the past, JROTC cadets had no choice but to follow and carry on traditions from other schools. Now, they can create their own.
“They’re all very different and are motivated by different things,” Beasley said. “It’s going to be very interesting to see how they all grow and develop throughout the program and the kind of leaders, cadets and airmen that they become.”
Source: CFISD
