The JROTC classroom was full of excitement and pride because of the new addition to the school: the creation of the first all-female color guard team at McNeil. Their first appearance was at the Mu Alpha Theta and National Honor Society induction ceremony Oct.25.

“The establishment of the female color guard was one of our visions to have a stronger female presence in the McNeil JROTC program,” Master Sergeant Joshua Wilson said. “There are many opportunities for women in JROTC and we wanted to showcase one of them with the all-female color guard team.”

The new squad gives women recognition for many of their services and contributions. With the new addition, the females in JROTC will have more opportunities to showcase their abilities that are developed outside of the classroom experience. The girls on the team are sophomore Rhiannon Kimona, sophomore Alejandra Vasquez, freshman Cinnamon Wright-Burwinkel, sophomore Helen Calderon,  and their coach junior Ann Marie Young.

“I started here at the beginning of last year and I have always seen the need for a female team to properly publicize the awesome program we have here,” MSgt. Wilson said. “As well as the ways females can excel outside the normal classroom environment.”

The color guard team broadens the vision of JROTC and the opportunities of females in the program as well as the military. The all-female squad recaptures the heavily valued concept of JROTC of equality.

“Ultimately, this will impact AFJROTC by further showcasing that JROTC/ROTC/Military are all equal opportunity pathways,” MSgt. Wilson said. “That all men and women, regardless of where they come from, have the same means to succeed.”