-Military Ball

Military Ball

by: AH’Quien R.

Lights, camera , DRESSES !!!!! On Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 7:00 sharp, beauty filled the Kean High cafeteria at the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (J.R.O.T.C) Military Ball.

The theme of this formal event was “Sparkle and Glisten for Military Ball 2011.”

“ I don’t know the exact amount attended, but I know it was a lot because we sold over 300 tickets,”said battalion commander Shantelle Eddy. This was a mandatory event, but many cadets were just too stubborn to attend this spectacular event because of where it took place. They thought that having the Military Ball in their own school cafeteria was the “cheap way out,” and they liked the idea of having it at the Sugar Bay Beach Resort Hotel much better.

“ I have just reached to the school, this being my first year in R.O.T.C., and I was so excited to hear that it was going to be at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Beach Resort, but then...” said a ninth grader. Before finishing her sentence, she took a deep breath and shook her head in disappointment.

When the cadets arrived, there was a long line of people with higher rank standing at the door. This was Military Ball “RED CARPET STYLE!” The cadets had a red carpet laid on the floor to direct them to greet the people in the receiving line inside the cafeteria. The receiving line is a military tradition. When the cadets walk in, they must introduce themselves, including name, rank, and the name of the person they are attending with (dates) if they brought one. The cadets tell the first person in the receiving line their information, and then he/she passes it on to the the next person, and so on and so forth until it reaches the last high ranking officials.

In the receiving line there are at least 10 people including the principal, higher ranking cadets in the battalion, the governor and his wife, the instructor and his wife, just to name a few. If cadets are wearing gloves, they’ll take them off to shake hands. They must not shake the hand of the first person. The cadets are to follow these rules because if they don’t, it will be labeled as disrespect.

As the cadets made their way through the receiving line, they looked up to some of the most beautiful drapes hanging over the walls of the cafeteria. Some helpful cadets (seniors who needed credits) and the instructors dressed the cafeteria in yellow and white drapes, balloons, multicolored table cloths, and chair dressings to match. “The whole dress up was outstanding!” said Keshawn D.

“Let’s talk about outstanding,” The food!” he added, “Oh yes, the food was outstanding ! Yes, perfect word, ‘OUTSTANDING!’” It was prepared by the famous Jamaican chef, Chef Michael, also known as “Brocky” and other staff members.

Ninth grader, Krimisha A. stated, “This is my first time being here, and even though it was in the cafeteria and not at Sugar Bay Beach Resort, it [was] really pulled off alright!”

Sgt 1st Class Daniels said, “ I never thought this was going to happen; I honestly thought that this was going to be a ‘dead dog’ event,” he said.

Colonel Eddy Charles spoke during the dinner part of the program. He said that everybody has goals and chances, and you never know how far you would go in life if you don't take chances to meet your goals.

Many cadets who couldn’t wait for him to stop talking were clapping as if rushing him off. They were all waiting to dance, have fun, socialize with friends, take lots of pictures to put up on Facebook, and above all hear the announcement of Mr. and Miss J.R.O.T.C.

The 2010-2011 Mr. and Miss J.R.O.T.C took their last dance and the new 2011-2012 Mr. and Miss J.R.O.T.C ., Charles Cypre and Malena De la Cruz took their first dance. The night was slowly coming to an end, and the cadets still hadn’t danced yet. The lights came off first and that was their cue to have fun. The music started playing and the cadets danced the night away.

The 2011-2012 Mr. and Mrs. J.R.O.T.C.