Saluting leadership
Methuen High cadets celebrate JROTC’s 15th anniversary

By John Basilesco
MethuenLife Writer

They have become a familiar sight in the community — marching in parades, placing flags on veterans’ graves and presenting colors at Methuen High football games.
They are members of Methuen High's Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, and every Wednesday they proudly wear their uniforms to school.
Last month, the cadets and their instructors celebrated the corps' 15th anniversary at the Methuen VFW on River Street. The celebration was organized by retired Army Lt. Col. Jeffrey Kimball, who started the program at Methuen High and other Massachusetts high schools.
Since it was established, the local program has grown from 30 members in its first year to a current membership of 172 cadets. It teaches them responsibility, leadership and teamwork.
For some, like Methuen High senior Joel Rymer, 16, the JROTC program has turned their lives around.
Joel, the highest ranking cadet, credits the program for helping him overcome bad influences in his life, including "hanging out with the wrong crowd" a few years ago.
"When I got into the JROTC, I saw, basically, the light," he said. "I grew to like it ... I started thinking about the differences between the good and bad.''
What he learned about responsibility and leadership convinced him to ignore anyone trying to convince him to do bad things, he said.
Not only that, but he went on to become the highest ranking corps member, with a title of battalion commander.
Others, including Ryan DiZoglio, 17, and Nathan Pendergast, 16, overcame shyness and gained confidence.
For these cadets and others, it's like being part of a family, they say.
"We motivate the young people to become better citizens, and it's all done through teamwork," said retired Army First Sergeant Gary Cebula, a longtime instructor. "And they do become very close-knit, and they experience a lot of stuff together — not only in school, but out of school as well.''
Many start their school day in the JROTC classroom at Methuen High, helping one another with homework, Cebula said, for example.
Helping others, including the community, is part of their mission.
"It's great to be able to help out in the community," said Brianne Begin, 18, a leader of one of the group's four platoons.
She recalled a recent visit from some veterans of World War II and other wars, who praised the cadets for "carrying on what they worked for," she said.
DiZoglio said, "The JROTC is a big, big part of the school because we walk around in our uniforms and we're proud of ourselves. But we're not just part of the school. We're part of the community. We help out doing parades for veterans and helping veterans in other ways, putting new flags on veterans' graves."
They also wear their uniforms outside of school, in public.
Begin dresses in her uniform every Thanksgiving when she and her family volunteer at Lazarus House in Lawrence. She will join the Marines after graduation this summer.
For Joel, he was apprehensive the first time he wore his uniform in public.
"The more and more I wore it, I never got a negative remark," he said. "People showed me respect. They were very enthusiastic as well. I feel important to the community; I feel that people are looking up to me."
Retired Army Lt. Col. Bernie Stansbury, the program's senior instructor, calls the JROTC the best leadership program in America.
"We motivate young students to become better citizens, better people,'' he said. "And we do that by providing opportunities to be in leadership roles. This is a class unique from all others that the students get in high school. We actually have them do a lot of the instructions themselves. Our senior cadets in the program get increasing positions of leadership and responsibility. They actually assist in the demonstrations and instruction in the class."
"Here we have a chance to teach other kids, which is different than anywhere else,'' said cadet Shannon Forkus, 17, who is the group's supply officer.