Cadets of the Month

On Feb. 28, 2024, the White County High School JROTC conducted a fiercely competitive Cadet of the Month selection board and honored the top two cadets from the competition.

xThe monthly event consists of two cadets from each of the program’s three companies to stand in front of a panel of judges and compete in three categories. The panel of judges, which consists of the first sergeant from each company, scores the competitors on uniform inspection, how well they are able to execute individual drill commands, and general knowledge of the Army and the JROTC program as assessed by a set of pre-determined questions.

Cadet Sergeant John Hawco won the Cadet of the Month for the First Year Cadet. Despite having competed several times earlier in the year, this was the first time Cadet Hawco won the competition and was named Cadet of the Month

“Cadet Hawco is very involved in JROTC as he is on the JROTC Raider Team, Rifle Marksmanship Team, Color Guard, and recently competed as a member of the Drill Team,” Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Johnson, the White County faculty member tasked with running the school’s JROTC program, said. “Cadet Hawco serves as a Squad Leader in Charlie Company and has a bright future in JROTC.”

Cadet First Lieutenant Christen Dowdy won the Cadet of the Month for the Second Year Cadet. Cadet Dowdy, who is very involved in JROTC, participates on all of the program’s teams and serves as the Platoon Leader for Charlie Company. Recently, Dowdy was promoted to Cadet First Lieutenant in part for his dedication to the success of the JROTC program.

“This is the astonishing fourth time Cadet Dowdy has won Cadet of the Month,” LTC Johnson said, explaining that is the maximum number of times a cadet can win the award and the first time the feat has happened at White County High School. “Despite being only a sophomore at WCHS, Cadet Dowdy has aspirations of serving in the United States Marines and becoming a Drill Instructor.”