BY KARISSA MILLER

Four members of the West Iredell High School Junior ROTC took a major step toward their futures recently by formally committing to serve in the U.S. Army.

Twin sisters Ava and Eva Jernigan, Jason Bryant and Michael Melvin participated in a special enlistment ceremony in front of family members and their classmates.

Junior ROTC teacher First Sgt. Reggie Hooker said the four cadets have developed leadership, discipline and a sense of service that prepared them for the next chapter of their lives.

“I’ve had these four cadets all four years of high school,” Hooker said. “I’m really proud of them. I love them like they were my own kids.”

Hooker said that recruiting new soldiers has become challenging as fewer Americans meet the basic qualifications to serve.

The population of the United States is around 338 million people, he said. Of those, roughly 24 million are between the ages of 17 and 34 — the primary age range eligible to enlist.

“Now, out of those 24 million, only a half of one percent can meet the medical, mental and physical standards required for military service,” Hooker said. “That brings us down to about 1.2 million people out of more than 330 million who can enlist.”

Because of that, Hooker said, recruiters often must contact hundreds of potential candidates just to secure a single enlistment.

Hooker said that he and Chief Stephen Klein, the other JROTC instructor, do not officially recruit high school cadets into the military. They put interested cadets in touch with the recruiters.

First Sgt. Daniel Williams, a 2013 graduate of West Iredell High School who now serves as an Army recruiter, returned to his alma mater to help with the ceremony.

Enlistment and Signing Ceremony

Chief Klein conducted the oath of enlistment and said the four cadets represent the values the JROTC program hopes to instill in participating students.

“They’ve done something that most people can’t or won’t do,” Klein said. “They’ve accepted a challenge that will change their lives.”

Next, Principal Ben Johnson presented the cadets with their stoles. He praised the cadets for their sacrifice and likened them to superheroes for their willingness to risk their lives for others.

“You are going to continue to shine upon us — not just the people in west Iredell community — but around the world. I’m proud of you. I love all four of you. I’m the proudest principal,” Johnson said.

West High’s Military Tradition

The ceremony also highlighted the school’s history of military service and excellence.

Since West Iredell High opened in 1974, five graduates have gone on to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. One grad is currently enrolled. Two others have graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.

In recent years, Hooker said, the school has also seen graduates break barriers in military careers.

Chelsea Dyson, a former cadet, became the first woman in the Army to oversee operations at the Airborne School at Fort Bragg.

Another graduate, Stephanie Brown, went on to earn a doctorate from Duke University and now serves as a nuclear physicist in the Navy.

The Journey Ahead

For the Jernigan sisters, the decision to enlist came from a shared desire for adventure and a career that would challenge them.

“I just want adventure,” Ava Jernigan said.

Both sisters plan to become parachute riggers, a specialized role responsible for packing and maintaining parachutes used by soldiers who jump from aircraft.

Their training will include basic training, advanced instruction and Airborne School, where they will learn the skills necessary to support airborne operations.

Bryant plans to serve as an Army engineer, which can involve building structures or clearing obstacles in combat environments.

Meanwhile, Melvin will train as a paralegal specialist, assisting Army attorneys with legal work involving soldiers and military operations.

Being a part of JROTC helped him grow personally.

“I’ve always been shy,” Melvin said. “This helped me come out of my shell.”

He also hopes the opportunity will allow him to pursue higher education and “help as many people as I can.”

Klein told families that military service offers college education benefits after completing their service. They can also qualify for additional funding through the GI Bill, he said.

He told the four seniors that the biggest reward may be the experiences that lie ahead.

“You will likely travel to cool places, meet people from around the world and form lifelong friendships,” Klein said.

The cadets, who will depart at various times in the summer to begin training, said they are excited and nervous about the journey ahead. However, they are confident that the lessons learned in JROTC — leadership, public speaking, teamwork and perseverance — will help guide them through whatever comes next.