Shepard JROTC students  deliver briefing to U.S. Air Force

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Col. Wolfgang Gesch talks with the command staff of the U.S. Air Force JROTC program at Shepard High School during a briefing. | Supplied Photo

Updated: March 1, 2012 8:01AM

Even among the command staff in the focused, team-oriented U.S. Air Force JROTC program at Shepard High School, a recent morning felt a little taut.

Just a couple of months into their roles as JROTC leaders, the students joked around — not nervously, but more to bide time and get to their appointed task.

Shortly, they’d brief the U.S. Air Force JROTC regional director, Col. Wolfgang Gesch, on their plans and goals for the year. They’d represent their JROTC teachers, Maj. Dan Johnson and Chief Bill Foster, during the presentation.

It was all enough to make high school students feel overwhelmed by the moment. Fortunately, Gesch walked into the room and, after the cadets snapped salutes, started the morning with the word, “relax.”

“This is a conversation, not a briefing at the Pentagon,” Gesch said. “You can relax. Now, who was Alan Shepard?”

All the students laughed. Justin Reynolds, the JROTC corps commander, smiled and answered the Shepard biographical question quickly and accurately. He then proceeded with the briefing.

Reynolds and the other members of the command staff outlined the program’s growth from 70 to 133 students from 2010 to 2011, as well as JROTC’s academic, disciplinary and community service goals.

When Reynolds mentioned the cadets had nearly completed one of the service goals — five outreach contacts with area veterans’ groups — Gesch stopped him.

“It seems like you can make a mid-course change here and adjust your goals upward,” Gesch said. “As Americans, we’re competitive. We want to be first, not second or third. Anything you can do to be competitive, you’ll improve. Never pass up a chance to be impressive.”

Gesch stopped the presentation repeatedly to ask questions and pose hypothetical problems. Each time, he prompted the Shepard students to think and answer as leaders should.

Gesch, who supervises many U.S. Air Force JROTC programs, understood the anxiety that high school students encounter when they’re required to manage peers. He suggested they boost the program’s team orientation.

“With a team, it’s easier to say, ‘let’s get our act together.’ There’s a degree of pressure you feel to not let down your teammates,” Gesch said. “You can apply this concept to most anything.”