Vail’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide students with opportunities to gain job skills, certifications, and even employment out of high school. And, the programs certainly set students up with a launching pad to pursue advanced certifications, degrees, and professions. Vail’s CTE programs are an integral part of helping students to create their own stories.
All Vail High Schools CTE NJROTC Program
Under the direction of Lt. Commander George Murga, Vail’s NJROTC unit is the largest in Arizona. It launched with 140 students in 2012 and has not dropped below 200 since. The unit serves students from all high schools in Vail, and all are welcome! And, because of the tremendous enrollment and successful outcomes of students in the program, the unit is now fully funded by the US Navy.
Vail’s NJROTC students have earned tremendous accolades. The number of military academy appointments is the most of any ROTC program in AZ. Vail currently has three at West Point, two at the Merchant Marine Academy, one who graduated from the Air Force Academy, five young ladies serving as officers in the military, and three at flight school. 33 students have earned full ROTC scholarships, and five have received Congressional Military Academy appointments. The program has also earned dozens of different awards that include Distinguished Unit with Honors multiple times, Orienteering Championships, Marksmanship Championships, etc. They are even asked each year to present the colors at the opening session of the Arizona Legislature.
The awards and accolades are wonderful, but what is most impressive is how the students benefit from the camaraderie, the discipline, and the self-worth of being the person who represents his or her school and country when putting on the uniform. Teenagers are looking for a place to belong. Vail’s NJROTC provides them with that healthy place.
Ava Gardner:
Ava Gardner is a current Cienega High School NJROTC senior. In fact, she is the commanding officer of the entire unit. In her role she directs and guides her unit. Her role is to paint the big picture for the unit including the goals they set for themselves. She works to emulate the values of what the program represents… one of honor, decency, and integrity.
Ava decided her freshman year that she wanted to see if the military was something she would enjoy. The best way to figure that out is to experience it. She says that being part of the program has helped her to build a sense of self confidence, drive, and ambition. Then, when she got into leadership positions, she was challenged even further. Of her leadership, she says, “it forced me to see things from multiple perspectives. I had to reach out and coach people with different skill levels and different thought patterns. And, we have learned to work together.”
Ava plans to head to college and major in neuroscience. She hopes to continue with her military studies as well in an ROTC program and then someday hopes to work in the medical field in the Navy or serve as an intelligence officer.
Best of luck, Ava! We’ll be cheering you on!
Kate Midel:
Kate Midel is a 2016 graduate of Cienega High School where she completed all four years of the NJROTC program. She is now attending aviation school in Pensacola, Florida after having earned her degree in engineering management from UA. Her long term goal is to serve in the Navy as an aviator for at least the full twenty years.
Her love for the Navy and sense of duty to this nation runs deep. Kate is from the Philippines. When she came to Vail, the language was really hard. She naturally went into quiet mode. But, she’d learned that it is never good to be comfortable, so after researching the NJROTC program and seeing the public speaking component, she went for it. She knew that she had to get past her challenges, and NJROTC is where she says she did it. She’d also learned about the clubs, workouts, afterschool programs, and the annual ball – all things that excited her!
And, Kate credits the NJROTC program with helping her make it through college. She was awarded a full ROTC scholarship because of her academic achievement and leadership in the unit in Vail. Kate’s advice to current students is, “Challenge yourself. Take advantage of the opportunities to be uncomfortable so you can learn and really see your potential. It helps when you are around people who are positive, like the people in NJROTC in Vail.”
Way to represent Vail, Kate! We are so proud of you and wish you the best of luck!
