JROTC cadets get taste of parachuting, medicine, policing, aviation

By Keith Houin, Fort Polk Public Affairs OfficeJune 16, 2021

Spc. Ashleigh Cardwell, veterinary technician, demonstrates how to draw blood from military working dog Chantal while her handler, Spc. Zach Fossum, keeps her calm.
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Warrant Officer Rhett Southard, Airdrop Branch, helps a cadet get in proper position for free fall on the virtual reality parachute simulator.
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Spc. Alexia Smith, Airdrop Branch, prepares a cadet for static line jump simulation using the VR parachute simulator.
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FORT POLK, La. — Natchitoches High School Army Junior Recruit Officer Training Corps cadets visited Fort Polk Wednesday to get a small taste of what life as a Soldier and on an Army installation might be like.

The cadets had the opportunity to interact with Soldiers at various stops during the tour.

About 20 JROTC groups visit Fort Polk each year to help make informed decisions about their future and get a better idea of what life is like in the military. Tours are tailored to meet criteria set out by JROTC instructors.

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