Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel David McMickle greets attendees of the 2019 Military Ball on Feb. 15, 2019. Over the years, McMickle participated in many Military Balls and has enjoyed seeing JROTC cadets display the etiquette skills taught in the JROTC curriculum. “I like that we teach the young men how to go about getting a date to the Military Ball,” McMickle said. “You impart (the) knowledge on to (a) young man to treat a young lady like a young lady, and then see how she feels about herself, her self-confidence. You empower that young man to treat somebody the right way. It’s nice to see it.” Photo by Audrey Enghauser
CCHS JROTC cadets are preparing for their annual Military Ball, which will be held on Feb. 11 for the first time since the 2019-20 school year.
A high school dance normally includes food, music and socializing – not a color guard or speeches from students. However, Clarke Central High School’s JROTC Military Ball is both a ceremony and a celebration.
CCHS’s JROTC program will host its annual Military Ball at Trumps Ballroom, on Milledge Avenue, on Feb. 11. The Military Ball serves as an assessment for cadets to demonstrate the military etiquette they learned in class, and an opportunity to introduce cadets to JROTC-affiliated community members.
“We teach (the cadets) what we expect. And then they go out there, they meet the standard, and the gentlemen look very handsome and ladies look gorgeous when they come out and present themselves,” Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel David McMickle said. “We like to teach them that they can have fun and still present themselves in an acceptable manner.”
“We teach (the cadets) what we expect. And then they go out there, they meet the standard, and the gentlemen look very handsome and ladies look gorgeous when they come out and present themselves.”
— Lieutenant Colonel David McMickle,
Senior Army Instructor
The event consists of a series of formal JROTC ceremonies, including a color guard presentation and short speeches from JROTC leadership, followed by a dance.
“Military Ball is a great experience for anyone who wants to go to something classy and formal,” Battalion Public Affairs Officer William Sierra, a senior, said. “We do a formal color guard inside the building. We invite the Chief of Police (and) many of our previous cadets. A lot of important people go to that just to experience the Military Ball with Clarke Central.”
A poster advertises Clarke Central High School’s 2022 Military Ball. Battalion Public Affairs Officer William Sierra, a senior, was grateful for the care that went into organizing the event. “I’d say the best part of Military Ball is being able to see and experience how much our instructors appreciate us, to do an event like that for us,” Sierra said. “I wouldn’t say I’ve seen many events like that happen, not as formally. They’re trying to get as many important people to go (to the Military Ball) to see that they’re teaching us right, and they continue to support our program.” Graphic courtesy of Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel David McMickle
The Military Ball was canceled during the 2020-21 school year because of the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, McMickle has seen apprehension among the underclassmen.
“This is the first time we’ve had (the Military Ball) in (two) years. We canceled it last year and the year before. So (the JROTC program is) reintroducing it to a whole group of students,” McMickle said. “We’ve got a bunch of seniors that have gone and know how much fun it is, but you (also have) the freshmen who just haven’t jumped in there with both feet.”
To address this, seniors like Sierra, who have attended the Military Ball before, will act as mentors to the younger cadets.
“I understand that the underclassmen are also nervous and unprepared but that’s why we are teaching them proper etiquette,” Sierra said. “(The younger cadets) have all really grown a connection to all of (the senior cadets). We’re gonna be there for them, and there to correct them if they do something wrong.”
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