About the Program

The Falcon Battalion History AND THE ORIGIN OF HANKERSON HALL.

East River High School's Army JROTC Falcon Battalion was established on August 2011 as a National Defense Cadet Corps (NDCC), led by Army Instructor MSG Hankerson. From 2011-2012, the JROTC program consisted of only 150 cadets. During this time, the program was only developing, with cadets receiving for the first time, the now symbolic dress blue uniform.

From 2012-2013, the Falcon Battalion showed even more growth, increasing to over 180 cadets enrolled in the program. Major Celeste joined MSG Hankerson to help enhance the program. Not only did the number of cadets increase, but also what the program was able to do. During this year, new extra-curricular activities were added to the program, including Color Guard, Drill competitions, Iron Knights Competition, Raider Competitions, and the Cougar Cat Fight.

From 2013-2018, the program amassed over 330 cadets involved in the program. Army Instructors SFC Flores and SFC Kalapp joined the program during these years. The program further evolved with the proper establishment of several teams which included an Honor Guard, Drill Team, Raiders Team, Marksmanship Team, a JLAB Team, a Mural Team, a Cyber-Patriots Team, a Saber Team, a Reading Team, a Medic Team, and a Fitness Team.

In 2022, LTC Jonathan Watson and SFC Joel Murray joined the program, joining SFC Flores and SFC Kalapp. Together they have re-envisioned the program focusing on further developing our future leaders. As the new Senior Army Instructor, LTC Watson has brought the vision of Attitude, Behavior, and Effort to the Falcon Battalion.

MSG HANKERSON

"A FALCON LEGACY"

MSG (Master Sergeant) HANKERSON - "I can honestly say that teaching JROTC at East River High School has been, without a doubt, more rewarding than I ever had imagined. I love the cadets and have enjoyed waking up every school day looking forward to greeting them and being involved in their daily lives. They energized my life and added a bond amongst teenagers that I think few will ever have the joy of experiencing."

CADET-LED PROGRAM

The JROTC Program is all about involving cadets. Cadets will be encouraged and given chances to lead and experience opportunities that may arise for them in the program. While Army Instructors are present to ensure the progress of cadets, cadets are pushed to experience the program first-hand through activities made by themselves and supervised by their instructors.

The Curriculum

Monday / Tuesday- Study Days: The two days where cadets learn and discuss leadership through their specific LET level book, every cadet through LET 1 - LET 4, will learn how they can improve and become better leaders in their own way.

Wednesday- Uniform: Every Wednesday is Uniform Day. Cadets arrive at school with their uniforms on in a professional manner. During class, uniform inspections are carried out by other cadets to implement and practice their leadership and management skills.

Thursday- Drill: Every Thursday, companies get the opportunity to practice drill/marching/ceremony skills with every cadet. This is crucial to the program for promoting the growth of leadership within every cadet. Cadets get to practice coordination skills as well, all while being able to have a good time.

Friday- PT(Physical Training): Every Friday, a PT session is conducted. As a company, cadets motivate and grow with one another with each exercise that is done. This allows the cadets to truly reveal their leadership and physical skills on a personal level, while also promoting healthy habits.

FIND A special JROTC Team THAT FITS YOU.

Raiders/Iron Knight Challenges - Does a heavy team-focused, and physical fitness-based team sound interesting? Muscle up for these challenges then! The Iron Knight and Raiders challenge are a pair but separate set of competitive and physically challenging programs in which cadets perform to the best of their abilities in different fitness and skill events.

Drill team - Does a team based on coordination, precision, and rifle trick maneuvers with drill sound right? Then start marching your way into Drill Team! Centralized on an athletic performing art focused on the mental and physical mastery of Army Drill and Ceremonies, the competitive Drill Team demonstrates the spirit of the Army through regulation drill, inspection, and rifle trick maneuvers. Note that the rifles used are drill-purpose rifles, meaning they are not real.

Marksmanship - Does mastery of accuracy and precision under pressure with air rifles hit your target? Come take a shot with the Marksmanship Team, one of the safest youth programs that promotes teamwork, self-confidence, patience, focus, detail, gun safety and handling, marksmanship, life, and performance skills. This is a competitive sport which can provide scholarship opportunities.

Orienteering - Want to learn to track your location and navigate terrain outdoors in wooded environments? Orienteering is the way to go! A challenging part of the JROTC elective courses, has a team member utilizing a compass, map, and orienteering applications to complete various land navigation challenges. This program promotes the spirit of competition, leadership, decision-making, and teamwork!

JLAB - Want to prove your skills in academics and leadership? Demonstrate your strength in the JROTC Leadership/Academic Bowl, a competitive program that imparts values of leadership and citizenship while preparing for higher education milestones like college entrance exams.

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