By JAMESON BICE / Special to the Reporter

ALABASTER – Thompson High School’s Air Force JROTC is off to a great start. The cadets attended a Change of Command Ceremony in which Taylor DiCicco assumed command as group commander. The cadet staff has met multiple times to finalize goals for this school year. These include community impact, school impact and individual goals.

Freshmen started off the year getting uniforms and learning how to wear them properly, learning to do drill, current events and starting curriculum in their classes. The Air Warriors held a picnic on Saturday, Aug. 25 as a way for new cadets to get to know each other. They had many activities at the picnic including tug-of-war, frisbee, kickball and a “Find Someone Who” icebreaker activity. The cadets and their families thank Jimmy John’s, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Joe’s Italian for donating food for the picnic.

The freshmen are currently being introduced to the teams and extracurricular activities that JROTC offers. These teams include marksmanship, physical fitness, drill, color guard, model rocketry, model aircraft, Kitty Hawk Air Society and several others. Leaders in the program are conducting interest meetings for these teams.

This year, the cadets are also celebrating AL-932’s 25th anniversary. The Air Warriors’ cake-cutting ceremony and reception will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. We invite all current cadets and their families as well as former cadets of AL-932.

This celebration will be held at Thompson High School. Guests are asked to show up at the front rotunda of the school, and cadets will direct them from there.