Senior Jonah Adamson is one of many headed into the military after high school, but Adamson specifically will be stationed at West Point Academy, one of the most prestigious military institutes in the country. 

   Adamson will be stationed as a fourth class cadet after being a part of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps for the majority of his high school years. Adamson will be studying engineering in hopes to land a position through the Army Corps of Engineers.

   “I’m really looking to serve as an engineer to further US infrastructure, but also deliver humanitarian aid throughout the country and the world,” Adamson says.

   The JROTC is a program that trains high school students to become better citizens as well as introducing them to military structure. Throughout his time, Adamson has learned things like the leadership chain of command of the military and how to wear his uniform.

   “I’ve gained many skills with working in a group with the chain of command, [like] how I delegate to those underneath me while also interacting with junior officers above me,” Adamson states.

   Adamson’s participation in the JROTC was well known throughout his time in high school, as there would often be days that he was required to wear his uniform in public.

   “I have gotten comments in the hallway and it just is what it is,” Adamson says. “I don’t let anything affect me, and it just opened my eyes to a different side of what I could do after high school.”

   Adamson’s decision to join the military after high school has not come without its challenges and other’s opinions.

   “Part of it is people’s lack of understanding with how vast the military is,” Adamson states. “It’s not all about the soldiers going overseas. Like the Army [and] Navy, they help provide a lot of humanitarian aid during natural disasters.”

   Regardless of the challenges, Adamson still encourages others who are considering joining the military to go for it.

   “The military has so many different branches, jobs, and career paths within the military [that] can help you,” Adamson says. “If you want to be a doctor, you can learn how to do medical training in the military, and they’ll pay for you to go and get your medical education. It’s a great way to go through school. They have so many opportunities and they’re just waiting for you to sign up and go for it.”