Cadet Richard Huth

Cadet Lieutenant Colonial Richard Huth shouted out orders to the drill team under his command as they marched the length of the Valley High School gymnasium. The JROTC students were an impressive site as they proudly walked through their military exercises, retired WWII M16’s resting on their shoulders. They competed against seven other schools in the Annual League One, JROTC Drill Team Competition that was held recently. After six hours of drills the team ended up with an impressive second place.

“The JROTC motivates young people to become better citizens. It teaches leadership, duty and respect,” stated Cadet Huth. His participation in the program for the past four years has given him a confidence and pride that he displays in speech as well as in action. It has in fact made such a positive impression on his life that it has marched him in the direction of a lifelong career. He took the skills he developed and used them when he enlisted in the US Army Reserves and attended boot camp at Fort Linwood Missouri. Because of the training that he received he was ahead of everyone else there.

“Basic training was cool. I learned a lot.” Richard was the only person in his company to have an opportunity to operate an AT4 rocket launcher. He got to blow up an old tank that they were using for target practice. When he goes back into the service he will be learning to construct bridges. “I’ll be learning to make sharp cuts with C4, ribbon cuts. They are cut with calculated blasts of the C4.”

According to Richard the JROTC has reinforced the discipline and moral values that have been taught to him by his mother, Connie Huth. “She raised me right and she raised me with discipline; she didn’t let me do whatever I wanted. So, without her, I probably wouldn’t be the young man I am today.” His experiences participating in the JROTC program at Valley High School has given him the passion to pursue a military career.

Richard plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg where he wants to obtain a degree to teach history. Upon graduation he plans to join the US Army Reserve 454th Engineering Battalion located in New Kensington and is hoping for a long career in the reserves or active duty. When he retires from his military career, Richard plans to become a high school history teacher.

To watch the video go to http://www.alle-kiskitoday.com/webcasts/1335 To find out more about the JROTC program go to http://gateway.usarmyjrotc.com/http://portal.usarmyjrotc.com/jrotc/dt