Junior ROTC cadets gain skills, confidence during Robins Summer Leadership School Published June 20, 2008 By Amanda Creel 78 ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, Ga. -- The former NCO Academy was bustling with activity as some of Middle Georgia's youngest Airmen spent a week focusing on becoming better leaders. The cadets, members of the Houston and Twiggs counties' Air Force Junior ROTC programs, spent the week living the Air Force life. The Airmen were given a chance to practice their drills, do physical training, sleep in the barracks and even eat MREs as part of the Summer Leadership School experience. Although some of the students were fonder of the military lifestyle and grueling routine than others, they all had to learn to excel under the circumstances to survive the week and graduate from the course on June 14. "It is a challenging course for a lot of them, but it is also an opportunity for them to come out of their comfort zone," said Master Sgt. Sonia Grate, a first-time instructor at the Summer Leadership School and an aerospace science instructor at Twiggs County High School. She said she has enjoyed watching the students learn their own abilities and use that knowledge to prepare for their adult lives. Though the week-long school is only a small glimpse into the life of those wearing blue, it allows the students not only to gain skills needed to succeed in life and school, but helps them make informed decisions about whether or not military life is the way for them. "It is teaching me things I didn't know about the Air Force," said Cadet Justin Yerdon, a 10th grader at Warner Robins High School, who hopes to earn his commission as an Air Force officer one day. The students were taught a variety of different skills necessary for military service such as a survival skills exercise, guidon and element drills. Cadet Jerry Williams, an 11th grader at Twiggs County High School, said the many drills throughout the week helped him to focus less on his individual performance and more on teamwork. Some of the most important skills developed during the school are time management and organizational skills, said Cadet Jefray Berry, an 11th grader at Houston County High School. "It's teaching me how to be in control when things get extremely hectic," he said. Cadet Kyle Holder said his parents are going to be thrilled with the results of his participation in Summer Leadership School because it is teaching him to follow instruction in a more expedient fashion. "My parents always fuss at me about doing things and having to ask me seven times to do things. After this I think I will be doing things the first time," said Cadet Holder, who is an 11th grader at Perry High School. Although the week was intense and grueling, an end-of-the-week activity known as "healing waters" kept many of the students motivated to keep working hard. Healing waters is the group's chance to dive head first, feet first or any other way they would like, into one of the base's swimming pools for some much needed therapy after a week of walking in Airmen's boots. Cadet Greg Floyd, a 12th grader at Northside High School said the thought of healing waters was a great motivator for all of the students.