Leavenworth High School JROTC Alumni Dinner January 14 th 2017 CENTENNIAL 1917 2017
LEAVENWORTH TIMES, DECEMBER 8, 1896
ORIGINAL ORDERS, JANUARY 1917
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1896-1915 A precursor to the corps of cadets were the Barry Cadets, a group of choir boys from St. Paul s Episcopal Church who were inspired to form a military organization after witnessing a military tournament in Lawrence in 1875. Cadets Herman and Howard Langworthy, 1899 The Leavenworth Corps of Cadets in 1899, 3 years after their founding The Cadets in 1904
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1896-1915 1908: Early on the morning of the 22d of April, in a heavy rain, the High School Cadets started on their annual hike. The ill-fated town of McLouth was their destination The distance of 20-odd miles was made in 12 hours. Rifle drills in 1909 In 1912 a company of Girl Cadets was organized. The yearbook stated that the girls company supplies a long felt need, and there can be no doubt but that it has come to stay. Unfortunately, it this unique organization only lasted two years.
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1916-1930 The tradition of battalion sponsors took hold in 1920. The girls had to have a high standing in school. They were nominated by the boys of ROTC and voted on by the girls of the school. 1921 Battalion Sponsors 1922 Cadet Hop In 1907 the corps of cadets began hosting dances at the high school, known as Cadet Hops. These dances soon evolved into the annual military ball.
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1916-1930 A rifle team was firmly established in 1923 when they were given a dedicated indoor firing range. 1924 Rifle Team Cadet Officers 1925 In 1929 the cadets finally earned the rating of Honor Unit, one of five schools to do so in the Seventh Corps five-state area Buglers had been with the corps since at least 1905, and a full-fledged band the precursor to the drum and bugle corps appeared for the first time in 1926. 1928 Band
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1931-1945 Leavenworth ROTC began the thirties with 226 cadets, and grew to over 275 during the 1936-37 school year. Because of this, the corps was reorganized into a regiment with two battalions. Members of A Company 1933 Photo from 1934 yearbook cover The 1938 yearbook paints a different mission of ROTC from its wartime preparedness origins: Contrary to the general belief that the ROTC is a course of military instruction conceived for war preparation only, the preeminent purpose is to train the cadets to be good citizens and leaders in later life. The general object of ROTC is to...inculcate in the students habits of precision, orderliness, courtesy, correctness of posture and deportment, leadership, and respect for and loyalty to constituted authority
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1931-1945 Top: The Battalion pauses for Taps during the 1939 Armistice Parade Right: D Company on the march during the parade Sponsors 1942 Cadet Captain William Walz inspects D Company in 1940
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1946-1960 In the post-war years the cadet population fell below 200 for the first time since 1926, and in 1950 the corps was reorganized into a battalion. In 1952 the community reaffirmed the importance of ROTC at Leavenworth by erecting a 9,800 sq. ft. building exclusively for the cadets use complete with a fivepoint firing range. Once again ROTC cadets would need to use their skills following graduation this time in Korea. The battalion in 1953 The Field House was the home of the JROTC from 1920 until 1952, when the battalion moved to their new armory Color Guard 1954 Queen s Manual Drill Team 1952
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1946-1960 The Armory became the new home of JROTC in 1952 17 years before females were officially allowed to join, the JROTC established a girls rifle team in 1958 President Truman presents a shooting award in 1958. C Company 1958
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1961-1974 Inspection 1963 The sixties brought some changes to the corps of cadets. The Cadet Rangers, the precursor to today s Raider team, was established in 1961. Enrollment in the program grew, reaching nearly 400 cadets in the 1964-65 school year. This increase led to another reorganization as the corps became a brigade with two battalions of three companies each. The late sixties also began the trend of national dominance by the rifle team, as in 1967 they won the first of 25 national shooting titles. Rangers 1961 Staff and Sponsors 1963 Miss America Parade 1966
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1961-1974 Veterans Day Parade 1966 Clockwise from top left: Honor Guard performs at St. Joseph 1969; Saber Guard arch during Homecoming 1969; Color Guard during 1972 Veterans Day Parade; Uniform Fitting 1974
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1975-1999 Sandy Lassetter is among 10 female cadets in the program in 1975. This number would grow to 67 the next year Jim Green appears before the school board during 1975 hearings on making JROTC an elective In 1976, the program became an elective and was opened to female enrollment. Many ROTC alumni and community members decried the end of mandatory enrollment for sophomore boys, claiming that the program would cease to exist without this requirement. This prediction turned out to be false, as the program flourished under the new guidelines. Female enrollment nearly equaled the male losses, and females quickly occupied leadership positions. In three years, the first female Brigade Commander was named. Cadets at Fort Leonard Wood Summer Camp 1975 Heidi Haight is named JROTC Brigade Commander in 1979, the first female to hold this position
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1975-1999 The Cadet Chorus was added to the program in 1982 The Rifle Team celebrates one of their many National Championships in 1986-87 Honor Guard without weapons 1996 1989 Sponsors sing National Anthem at Awards Night 1997 Rangers
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 2000-2009 The new century included a mix of old and new. The past was honored with the installation of a Hall of Fame and the 100 th Military Ball, while new events and facilities were added to an already stellar program. Rangers surprise the quiet crowd during the 2000 ROTC Assembly by riding around and honking their horns 2004 Junior Guard Cadets posting the colors during the annual Junior Guard meet, which began in 2000 Yellow Legs of Cavalry perform during the 2001 assembly Military Hall of Fame induction ceremony 2007 Cadets Model different kind of fatigues during the Veteran s day parade in 2004
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 2000-2009 The LHS Obstacle Course was installed in 2007 Organization Day 2009 2008 was the first year of the LHS Car Show Colors being presented at a Kansas City Royals game in 2009 Jacob Gardner cuts the cake at the 100 th Annual Military Ball in 2009
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 2010-2016 In 2015, the cadets helped Leavenworth High School celebrate their 150th anniversary, paying the school back for the support it has given to the program for more than a century. Cadets form the number 150 before marching across the field through the band Battalion Staff sprints to Outhouse Race victory during 2015 Buffalo Bill Days Raiders attack the PTT event at nationals 2016 E Co 2013 The Cannon Crew first appeared at home football games in 2010
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 2010-2016 The drill teams earned seven national drill trophies since 2010. In 2016 the Cavalry Angels placed second in Exhibition Drill and earned top honors in Unarmed Dual Exhibition and Individual Drill Down during the Army National Drill Competition. Carissa Cunningham receives the 2 nd place trophy for unarmed exhibition drill Raider teams now regularly place in the top 5 in various events at Raider Nationals. Here is the female team in 2016. The rifle team shooting at the state meet in 2015. The Sporter Class team qualified for nationals in 2016, the first time for an LHS team since 1998 Cadets rappel off the practice field retaining wall in the Spring and Fall Scenes from the 2016 Military Appreciation Pre-Game Ceremonies
2013 Veterans Day Parade LHS JROTC on Delaware St
The Corps of Cadets in 1908 and 2016
The Junior ROTC Cadet Creed I am an Army Junior ROTC Cadet. I will always conduct myself to bring credit to my family, country, school and the Corps of Cadets. I am loyal and patriotic. I am the future of the United States of America. I do not lie, cheat or steal and will always be accountable for my actions and deeds. I will always practice good citizenship and patriotism. I will work hard to improve my mind and strengthen my body. I will seek the mantle of leadership and stand prepared to uphold the Constitution and the American way of life. May God grant me the strength to always live by this creed.