Section B
? Editorials * Columns ? Features ? Classified ads
' '? ,
Large Lift _
?In the briefing on the Rlackhawk heliocopter, Hoke High students got to
look inside and walk around in the real thing. The Black hawk, manufac
| n fured ' by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., is capable of fifing at a maximum speed
of if 4 miles per hour. Along filtft fuel and crews, the chopper edn also
(Photos by Pam Frederick)
carry a vulcan cannon and up to 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Many of
these students are standing in the cargo loading doors. In the cafe of an
emergency, the two windows to the rear of the cabin are also doors.
, _ .. o
ROTC students learning the basics
By Ed Miller
Walk around Hoke County
High School on a Wednesday dur
ing lunch.
One will see the expected types
of dress, blue jeans, sweaters and
tennis shoes.
One will also see some Army
uniforms.
Wednesdays are inspection days
and the uniformed young people
are in the Junior ROTC program
at Hoke High.
The program is in its second year
and has already attracted so many
people, a ceiling has had to be
placed on the number of students
that can enroll.
The population of the Corps on
campus is about 50^o male and
50^0 female.
On Friday, November 17, a
team from Fort Bragg came out to
the school to give demonstrations
on rappelling, first aid, survival
and weapons.
There was also a brief given on
the UH-60A Blackhawk
heliocopter that flew the Ft. Bragg
personnel to the demonstration.
The purpose of the exercise was
an extension of classroom learn
ing, according to Major Carlton L.
McGuire.
The theory is learned in the
classroom, but practical work
must be done outside, McGuire
said.
The exercise served to acquaint
students with the "air mobility
aspect of the Army," McGuire
said.
According to the Major, Army
ROTC not only familiarizes
students with how the military
operates, it also highly motivates
students and teaches them safety.
Some of the students are so in
tune with the program that 85 out
of 105 that chose to attempt it,
qualified as rangers.
To be a ranger is to prove one's
physical capabilities as per stan
dards set out by the Army,
McGuire said.
McGuire is quite proud of the
fact he had so many students
qualify and he is the only instruc
tor in this area that holds qualifica
tion trials.
Ranger qualifiers were also
about half and half male and
female, McGuire said adding that
competition between men and
women is very high.
The Junior ROTC program is
mainly concerned with teaching
young people to be community
oriented, said McGuire.
You can make it
Survival is all about making it on hothing but what the land has to offer.
These Hoke High students are learning from Ft. Bragg personnel how to
survive in the woods. This was just one of the classes taught by the Bragg
soldiers once they landed. Hoke High students pictured are: (standing)
Henry Beasley, Cwen Ellerbe, Jet tie Jones, Jerry Ray, Jenalla Baker and
Tony McNeill, (Seated) Dellus Hodges, John Smith and Joseph Stevens.
"We don't teach war. We don't
teach kill, capture and destroy. We
do push patriotism, pride and self
confidence," the instructor said.
"I'm not here to recruit students
into the military. I teach leadership
and management skills," McGuire
said.
According to the instructor,
students that once missed school
regularly have joined the ROTC
program and now, never miss
school.
McGuire has had calls from
businesses all over town telling him
how the performance of his
students has improved since enroll
ing in the program.
Raeford Police Chief Leonard
Wiggins has also called McGuire
telling him how troubled young
people have straightened out their
act since becoming involved.
"Dr. Simpson (Hoke High Prin
cipal) has given me his full sup
port," said McGuire adding that
ROTC at Hoke High is actually
Simpson's program.
"I am just the manager of the
program," McGuire said.
Between McGuire and Assistant
Senior Army Instructor Sergeant
Major Aaron Williams, the Hoke
High unit was made fully func
tional in just three months.
Accomplishment of the feat was
a combination effort by McGuire,
Williams and the students,
McGuire said.
"Students offer to come in after
school and on weekends to help
with paperwork," said McGuire.
"The cadets manage the Corps
under adult supervision," he said.
The students are learning, said
the Major.
The instructor uses "force
teaching" techniques on students.
According to McGuire, students
have to take tests until they make
100%.
"1 don't let students just get a 70
and pass; 1 make them learn it
all," he said.
The main benefit students get
from the program is an alternative
idea of how to make a living after
school, said McGuire.
If a student chooses to go into
the military after school and has
been in ROTC for four years, that
person will make about $200
dollars per month more than the
average Army recruit, the Major
said.
"It gives them a foot in the
door" if they want to go into the
military after high school, he said.
Straighten it out
Once a parachutist hits the ground, the hard part of sky diving begins. The
jumper must untongle his lines and pack away his chute. These are
members of the 82nd Airborne Division stationed at Ft. Bragg that " just
dropped in" on the Junior ROTC at Hoke High. Shortly after the jumpers
landed, a demonstration was given on parachuting and sky diving.