Submitted By:

LTC(RET) Joseph M. (Mike) Jackson
Summerlin Academy

COL Gary Clark (MOAA) is spearheading an Armed Forces Day event at Joker Marchant Stadium (Flying Tigers) in Lakeland on Saturday, 19 May. The purpose of the event is twofold: honor veterans/service members in Polk County and showcase JROTC to the community. The event itself will be conducted in 3 phases: morning fun run; afternoon exhibition; evening pass-in-review just prior to the start of the game. Attached is the initial concept for your review and comment. We have tried to make it as simple as possible so that the cadets can execute it easily, look good, and have fun. Detailed planning will follow, but in general each phase is as follows:

Phase 1 – 5K fun run
• Open to the public
• Individual and team events
• Teams consist of 5 persons
• Entry fee is individual responsibility
• Prizes/awards for competitors
(At Summerlin, we plan to use it as a mini-Raider event)

Phase 2 – Joker Marchant Stadium Open House (will eventually be called something else, but that’s the idea)
• 1200-1400 (current plan)
• Outside the stadium – military vehicle static display (USAREC responsibility)
• Inside the stadium, under the bleachers – 100+ venders of various types
• On the baseball field – JROTC – related exhibitions (ex. Drill Team, Color Guard, Raiders)
• We need teams to volunteer; county/state drill team routines (regulation & exhibition) will work very well – no need to create something new
• Other ideas welcome
• Schools will be assigned time slots

Phase 3 – Pass in Review prior to baseball game
• Approx 1630-1800
• General Concept is attached
• Requesting each school bring a 51 cadet marching unit (5 person front, 10 cadets deep + BN CDR) and a cadet to carry the BN colors
• Cadets will march onto field; take positions in the outfield; take a knee
• Veterans and families will be recognized for various reasons (achievement, sacrifice, etc) on the infield
• At the conclusion of the presentation, cadets will march around the field and out the side gate.
• All participants will receive free tickets to the game
• Water/sports drinks will be provided

Issues:
• Instructors – if cadets sign up on their own for the run, no need for instructors to be present; at least one instructor per school will need to be present for phase 2 (if your cadets participate) and for the pass in review. Instructors will receive free admission to the game as well.
• Transportation – COL Butler is working with the Superintendent to provides busses for each school
• Rehearsal – Tigers will make field available for rehearsal that afternoon.
• Tigers will provide an air-conditioned area for cadets participating in phase 2 to rest while waiting to perform.

The goal is for every school in the county with a JROTC program to be represented. LTC Lentz and I agreed to handle the planning and coordination for the JROTC portion to relieve everyone else of that burden. We are happy to entertain recommendations on ways to make this better. We need to be proactive. Budget cuts across the county are coming again. We need to make ourselves visible in the community and relevant to the schools if we want to make sure our programs don’t suffer.