San Jacinto News-Times - Local News
Stories Added - February 2010
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JROTC students explore NASA
San Jacinto News- Times - January 2010
COLDSPRING -- Coldspring- Oakhurst High School JROTC students simulated space fl ight during a recent visit to Space Center Houston, reports Lt Colonel Bradley Keane, retired Air Force and senior aerospace science instructor. The Space Center fi eld trip is a component of “Exploring Space,” a class taught by Keane as part of the JROTC/COHS curriculum. Keane says, “Highlights of the trip were the fl ight simulator and Blast Off Theater. “Blast Off Theater,” he says, “includes a gigantic video display screen featuring a space shuttle launch as it blasts off the launch pad at Cape Canaveral. “Students saw and felt what it is like when over 7 million pounds of thrust push a 4 ½ million pound vehicle skyward. The theater literally rocked from the sound produced by gigantic speakers as white smoke bellowed out from the viewing screen,” Keane says. Afterwards, at the fl ight simulator, students “practiced” landing the space shuttle and/or docking it to the International Space Station. Thirty-fi ve COHS students attended in the tour. The COHS JROTC program is open to all students. Keane notes, “We do not recruit for the military nor is there any military obligation for Junior ROTC students.” Cadets earn one P.E. credit per semester. They must dress in uniform once a week. JROTC provides the uniform free of charge. Program studies are 40 percent aerospace science, 40 percent leadership development and 20 percent physical fi tness. Specifi c studies range from national security to civics to health. Tactical training includes track and fi eld events and tug-of-war competition. Students also travel to San Antonio each December to visit Lackland Air Force Base. And, each summer cadets compete to attend a one-week Summer Leadership School where they learn more about management, leadership, physical fi tness, and participate in a paintball tournament and rappelling.
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