AFJROTC Newsletter - February 2025

On 21 February, the three Minnesota AFJROTC units came together for a celebration of camaraderie, leadership, and achievement. This outstanding event was a testament to the strength and unity of our AFJROTC community.

The evening featured an inspiring guest speaker who shared valuable insights and graciously recognized top cadets from each program. It was incredible to see the dedication and hard work of our students celebrated in such a meaningful way.

Events like this remind us why we do what we do, building the leaders of tomorrow while fostering lifelong connections today.

On February 7, our North Branch Viking cadets put their skills to the test at the 33rd Annual Upper Midwest JROTC Challenge at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul. Competition was extremely tough this year and, while we didn’t place in either event, our Regulation Drill and Color Guard teams delivered strong performances. They demonstrated precision, discipline, and teamwork, proudly representing themselves and the North Branch Vikings.

With this competition behind them, our cadets now set their sights on the National High School Drill Team Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida this May. Every event is an opportunity to grow, and they are committed to improving with each practice and competition.

Symbols have long been a part of military tradition, helping teams build identity, camaraderie, and pride. In the Air Force, heraldic emblems represent an organization’s history, mission, and purpose. This semester, each flight created their own shield as a symbol of their unique identity and teamwork. They now hang in the classroom to show the current Honor Flight Competition standings.

On Saturday, March 8th, cadets will be teaming up with the American Legion to help raise donations for the North Branch Circle of Honor Regional Veterans Memorial. We’ll be bagging groceries and encouraging community support for this incredible project.

We highly encourage everyone to stop by, say hello, and donate what you can to honor our veterans. Learn more at the North Branch Beautification website!

Congratulations to Cadet Technical Sergeant Yileng Moua, this month’s Cadet of the Month! Nominated by his flight leadership, Yileng stood out among four highly deserving cadets and impressed the board of cadet leaders with his dedication, leadership, and positive impact on Bravo Flight.

Yileng brings energy and enthusiasm to the classroom, helping his fellow cadets whenever they need support. His flight commander highlighted his responsibility and teamwork, saying, "He puts a smile on everyone's face, never complains, and always helps out when needed." His flight sergeant emphasized Yileng’s willingness to step up, noting, "He recently led PT for Bravo Flight without hesitation, took charge of the 30-Step Drill Sequence, and helped teach cadets who needed extra practice."

Beyond the classroom, Yileng demonstrates initiative and commitment to the program, regularly stepping in for Flag Detail and the Friday morning pledge. His efforts in team projects, including Bravo Flight’s shield design, show his creativity and teamwork. Cadet Moua’s leadership, integrity, and dedication make him an outstanding example for his peers!

Congratulations to Cadet Second Lieutenant Connor Wessel, this month’s Cadet Officer of the Month!

Whether leading from the front or working behind the scenes, Connor can always be counted on. Our Cadet Group Commander noted, "When we needed someone to command color guard for the Upper Midwest Challenge, he was the first to say, ‘I’ll do it.’ When asked to come in early to help get things together for the competition, he was more than willing to help."

Connor’s initiative, reliability, and leadership make him an invaluable part of the corps. He leads by example, always ready to take on a challenge and support his fellow cadets!

Recently, the Air Force provided a full pallet of equipment to kick off an archery program for our students. There was just one problem… no arrows!

One of our amazing cadets and their supportive parent reached out to Full Draw Outdoors who generously offered to donate a case of arrows. Thanks to their support, our cadets can now fully experience this new activity. MSgt Barrett, shown below accepting this donation, completed the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) certification and will be coaching our new team.

We’re incredibly grateful for the generosity of our North Branch area community, and we can’t wait to share more as our cadets put their skills to the test. Stay tuned!