A Major Pain

Major Pain

As the Battalion Commander of the high schools JROTC, I was shaped to be cool, calm, and collective. I was taught never to lose control. Always to be the example of, "Motivating young people to become better citizens." Patience was a virtue I had to learn. So just imagine, all those buttons, that one cadet, had to push, to get me on the edge. If that cadet had not decided to test my patience, he would not have been slapped.

First game of the season! Even though I never really understood how football worked, I really loved being at the stadium. The smell of fajita (beef skirt) made my stomach grumble. Watching bleachers fill with maroon and gold gave me a sense of Hawk Pride. While the wind hitting me cooled the sweat stains on my uniform. To some we are annoying, but I always believed that the game couldn't start without us. I mean think about it. Does the super bowl skip the presentation of colors (Star-Spangled Banner)? Performing was as easy as breathing. We were on and off the field in five minutes tops.

After leaving the field Sergeant fist bumped us, "Good job, ladies," he said. We exchanged a few comments, and joked around before getting down to business. "Zepeda, go secure the weapons n' flags in the back of my vehicle, then get the cadets in formation and notify them of their duties." "Yes Sergeant,” I responded as he turned away. Nothing too difficult, I had done it several times as an enlisted (low ranking) cadet myself. The order was to get in formation. Let the cadets know to meet at the other end of the field, 10 minutes before the 3rd quarter. Inflate the helmet. Then deflate the helmet. Simple, right? Not for this one cadet.

“Stand fast!” I shouted. Conversations stopped, faces turned serious, the students ran into 3 even rows, 4 cadets in each, with columns as straight as the Leaning Tower. My Lieutenant assisted me in getting the lines straight and began instructing them how to dress right dress. “To get your...