Technical High School - Tech Tiger Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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+ 8] Me a p= ne all Sei BE 1 - Joe Bassani at leisure. 2 - Kris Drzal inspects Jorge Bryant as Harold Langford looks on. 3 - Coed Drill Team. 4 - Drum Corp. 5 - Female Drill Team without Rifles 6 Zannie McNeil concentrates. CerSas iB 25

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COMMAND PERFORMANCE ROTC has been a part of Tech since 1966. The corps consists of cadets who all play an important part in making ROTC what it is today. Chief Master Sgt. Henry B. Palmer and Colonel William Potter are the guiding force behind ROTC. Sgt. Palmer has been with the corps five years and teaches the cadets correct marching movements. Colonel Potter has been with the group for ten years and instructs classes on aviation. The group has annual trips to Truro Air Force Base in Cape Cod where senior cadets go for officer orientation, Bradley Field Air Museum to introduce freshmen cadets to various aircrafts and Federal Aviation Authority where junior cadets learn about aircraft regulations. One of the biggest annual trips is to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey where cadets spend a week experiencing Air Force life. The last annual trip is to the New London Coast Guard Academy where incoming seniors see what an academy installation is like. The corps also has an annual Military Ball at Westover Air Force Base where the cadets dress formally and have dinner and dancing. The group also has a traditional Family Night where parents and friends are invited for an orientation on how the corps is run. The last major event of the year is Graduation Ceremonies for the senior cadets who receive diplomas. Dignitaries and guest speakers attend this event, and outstanding cadets receive recognition. The ROTC has been an honor unit for four consecutive years, placing them in the top 5% of the ROTC units in the country. Each year that they are chosen as an honor unit, ROTC is able to appoint three cadets to each academy in a special unit with a four year fully paid scholarship. ROTC has three drill teams which were the top in New England after they competed with other school drill teams. They also have their own chorus and sing at school functions as well as nursing homes in the area around the Christmas season. They even have their own Drum Corps which keeps the cadets in step during parades. ROTC has fundraising events which help the cadets raise money for various activities. Each cadet is given 75% of the profit made on the fundraiser which goes into the cadet’s own fund, and 25% of the profit goes to ROTC fund for using during various trips. Any money the cadets make can be used for buying any school related item. The ROTC member learns pride and how to be a good Air Force cadet. The cadet is required to wear the ROTC uniform once a week at which time he is inspected and graded. Cadets are able to earn ribbons and rank by joining various activities within the corps as well as nerformina well on his job assignment. - Chief Master Sgt. Henry B. Palmer. - Colonel William Potter. - Commander of ROTC, Paul Zavadsky - Deputy Commander, Barry Joseph. ha WN

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+ 1 27 «2 , ‘ : a « 3 oe 0) i) . 1 Junior ROTC Cadets 2 Freshman ROTC Cadets 3 The Female Drill Team with Rifles