Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC)

According to Mahatma Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Providing a service to others is vital to an individual’s character development. It helps give a sense of morality and responsibility to the individual performing the service. From animal shelters to the JROTC program within a high school, schools and communities have gradually provided an exponentially increasing amount of organizations that individuals can join and places they can go to provide service to others within the area.
The moment I noticed the unjustness in society’s perspective of the youth and the lack of motivation within the community’s youth, I knew I would do whatever I could to correct it. Evermore, I have been working
with the Killeen Youth Advisory Commission for approximately two years. The first year, I held the position of the organization’s secretary. As secretary, I would jot down all of the details mentioned at each biweekly meeting. Then I would type the minutes and email the typed minutes to the sponsor before the next meeting and moreover, maintained a record of each member’s personal information and attendance at each volunteering event.
The following year and as of now, I was appointed as the organization’s director of social media. As the director of social media, I administer the organization’s social media sites, such as Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. Updating these social media sites creates a reputation for the Y.A.C. (Youth Advisory Commission), allowing for a better connection with the current members and new recruits as well, promoting the youth’s voice in the community.
As a Commissioner (a member of Y.A.C.), I volunteered at several community events and plan many projects. Many of these projects and community service events include face painting and balloon twisting for events all around the city of Killeen. One of my favorite memories was when I twisted balloons for children during a “Back to School” elementary event at the Metroplex hospital. Parents brought their children to get a twisted balloon or their face painted. After receiving a twisted balloon or seeing the reflection of a face painting in a mirror, the children were always content and would return great hugs or cheesy grins, making me even more content than they were. At that moment, I realized Gandhi’s statement to be true. Service of others has helped me find my happiness and my passion in serving.
At school, I am in a program known as JROTC, an acronym for Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Through JROTC, I have learned many skills that help me with my previous and current service to others. Lesson 2 of Chapter 4 covers performance indicators and values a leader should maintain. The lesson describes values such as duty and respect in detail. Fulfilling obligations, carrying out mission requirements, meeting professional standards, and setting the example are all the duty of a leader. With my volunteer work, I fulfill my obligation to show up to events on time, and clean before and after my work. I carry out the mission of twisting balloons and face painting for people who wish for a balloon or painted face. Profession standards are a requirement, not only for me as a leader, but also for the organization as a whole. The organization maintains a certain reputation within the community, so it is essential for organization members to act in a way that is appropriate to the circumstances and provide a professional setting for the “client.” Setting the example with a positive behavior is crucial so that children and their parents feel welcome to come once more. A leader respects other people, treating them accordingly, which is a given, regardless of whether an individual is in a leadership position or not. They give others equal and fair opportunities and show concern for the safety and wellbeing of others and are tactful and discreet when correcting or questioning
others. A responsible leader is courteous and doesn’t take advantage of their position of authorities. Equal and fair opportunities are given to those who wish to have a balloon or a painted face because they each stand in a line and patiently wait for their turn, based on who arrived the earliest. I tactfully and discretely ask the individuals if they have any allergies because some of the materials the balloons are made of and some substances in the paint may cause damage to an individual’s safety. It is also important to kindly let individuals know that painting on individuals who seem to have severe acne or scarring is strictly not allowed for sanitary purposes and the possible infections. And of course, last but not least, I do not take unnecessary advantage of my position as a leader.
Providing a service to others makes a difference in the community, but provides much more knowledge to the individuals volunteering.
Volunteers find a sense of self worth, empathy, gratitude, and responsibility. Personally, helping the community and providing a service to the community allows for a boost in confidence. Our world is often corrupt and unjust, but by twisting balloons and face painting, I learned that regardless of age, the youth of today can make major impacts on society, one smile at a time, even if it is just for a slight
moment.
From standing behind the social media to brightening people’s days, The Youth Advisory Commission of Killeen is an organization that allows me to apply several skills I have learned through JROTC about being a great leader. Fulfilling my duty, being kind, and taking care of everyone are just some of the things JROTC has taught me to ensure everyone has a smile by the end of the day. The fact that a single individual, like me, can volunteering in the community and create such content people, boosts my confidence and makes me want to take responsibility to engage in more services in the future.