JROTC Celebrates 100 Years of Leadership and Service

Reprinted from Traditions, Summer 2018
September 24, 2018

Cretin-Derham Hall’s Army JROTC program celebrates 100 of leadership and service to our community this year. The spring Twilight Parade capped off a special year, which celebrated the centennial starting at Fall review this past September.

As the oldest Army JROTC program in Minnesota, and one of the oldest in the nation, CDH has an unbroken record of excellence as an Honor Unit, with Distinction rating, which they have maintained since 1930.   

“In 2018, much like it was in 1918, JROTC is valued for the student opportunities in leadership and citizenship,” explained Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Jamie Fischer. “Our program is heavily focused on service and teaches leadership, structure, and self-discipline to our students who are the global leaders of tomorrow.”
Fischer explained that JROTC began in 1918 as a way to support the World War I effort by focusing on Patriotism as well as Americanism, which helped the large immigrant population integrate and serve the larger society while supporting the needs of our country during wartime and beyond. Today’s students are looking for ways to lead, as well. “JROTC remains a valuable opportunity to learn how to give back to the community, lead others in an environment that has high expectations, but also where you can make mistakes and learn from it,” commented Sergeant Major (Retired) Dave Berrisford.  

The three full-time JROTC staff lead the program at CDH and are committed to being present and engaged with the students. LTC Fischer, SGM Berrisford, and MSG Peloski have been at CDH for a cumulative total of 28 years and are proud that JROTC aligns with the values of CDH (and Cretin High School before that) especially those of Service and Leadership.      

JROTC at Cretin-Derham Hall is uniquely positioned to offer a multitude of diverse experiences for students. In addition to the learning that goes into the curriculum (one class per trimester), the cadets may engage in co-curricular opportunities such as service or focused activities and competition such as Flight Club, which provides exposure to aviation in the area, and Orienteering, a popular navigation competition with a compass and a map.

With more than 4000 hours of service completed just this year, JROTC members are committed to serving the community. Some highlights include:

• Honor Guard. JROTC serves at an average of 20+ wakes and funerals of alumni each year,
• Junior Achievement. JROTC cadets teach a full-day program on civic and economics to three elementary schools each year from Kindergarten through Sixth Grade
• School Service. If there is a need for support of a CDH event, you will usually see JROTC Cadets rolling up their sleeves and pitching in.

The program is growing significantly. The 2017-2018 school year saw 220 Raiders in JROTC. Next year, Master Sergeant (Retired) Ken Peloski, expects between 230-240. Of particular note, the number of females in JROTC has grown significantly. Out of 80 incoming 9th graders into JROTC, 26 are female, setting a record.  

While there is no expectation of military service after high school, the program does boast an impressive track record of students going on to further their military service. MSG Peloski points out that in the past ten years, 10 students have been appointed to the military academies and 14 students are in ROTC programs at colleges across the country. In addition, 12 students have enlisted.

“There is a tremendous legacy of excellence in the JROTC program at Cretin-Derham Hall (and Cretin),” noted Fischer. “We are incredibly proud of our cadets while they are here at CDH because they impact our community so significantly, but we also have deep respect for the ways these students take their leadership skills honed in JROTC and go out into our country and make a difference, in whatever career path they choose.”