EDUCATION
Called to duty Military recruitment surged to a 15-year high. MHS enlistees tell why they’re joining
BY DAVID IVERSEN
R
ETIRED AIR FORCE LT. COL. Allen E. Kirksey Jr.’s classroom isn’t like other classrooms. When the Maricopa High
School bell rings for fourth period, students stand at attention, staring straight ahead. They speak clearly, spines straightened, shoulders back. They are surrounded by military history, walls adorned with photos of Air Force aircraft and American flags preserved in shadow boxes. A shelf holds pamphlets for military branches. Welcome to the Junior ROTC program, a close-knit environment preparing young students not just for the military, but for life. “This is my favorite class,” senior Cadet Julius Moore says, wearing a 2001: A Space Odyssey shirt. He’s about to take a journey of his own. In a few short weeks, Moore will trade that civilian garb for military fatigues. He was the first of MHS’s 2025 graduating class to sign his enlistment papers with the military. Moore is joining the U.S. Marine Corps with aspirations of becoming a member of the military police. “I really love this country,” Moore said. “I think it’d be an honor to serve it.” Pull factors Moore was not alone in his eagerness to join. He is among some two dozen cadets who are enlisting after completing Maricopa Unified School District’s JROTC program at MHS or Desert Sunrise High School. Ninety-three cadets were in the cohort. Cadets like Jennifer Gordoa and Colbi McAdams, both graduates, said the program shaped their high school experience in profound ways. Gordoa, whose father served 21 years in the Air Force, planned to enlist after meeting with a recruiter. “It kind of got pushed on me,” she admitted, “but I appreciate it now. It helped me grow in
Cadet Julius Moore was the first Maricopa JROTC cadet from the class of 2025 to sign a contract with the military. He is joining the Marines.
leadership and responsibility. McAdams, the current corps commander, said the tight-knit nature of the group is what drew her in. “It’s a family. We look out for each other,” she said. “That’s what’s made it worth it.” For many cadets, JROTC is their first expo- sure to military life. It is also unique exposure to leadership, structure and accountability. They participate in drills, workouts, academic instruc- tion and real-world leadership development. There are no pencils in the ceiling or spitballs dried against the wall as there may be in other classrooms. “This is a real unit. These kids aren’t required to join the military, but they are required to show up with purpose,” said Kirksey. “We’re not just teaching them how to salute,” explained the retired lieutenant colonel. “We’re showing them how to lead, how to communicate, how to succeed.” Moore, soft-spoken, said he initially considered college, possibly engineering, before realizing he wanted more.
“If I didn’t know what I wanted to study, I was going to waste money,” he explained. After months of research and conversations with recruiters, he made his choice. “When I swore in, I felt it in my chest,” he said. “Like, wow, I’m really in this. Five years ago, I wouldn’t have believed it.” When asked what he was most looking forward to, Moore paused. “Seeing the world. Meeting people. Being part of something bigger.” He named Australia, Germany and New Zealand as dream destinations, and the military is his ticket. “I just want to do something with my life,” he said with his reserved smile. Public school to public sector The results speak for themselves: Past cadets are studying at the University of Hawaii on full Navy ROTC scholarships. Another past cadet is training to become a Navy nurse. Some have gone on to West Point and the Air Force Academy. Others now serve in combat roles or special operations.
InMaricopa.com | June 2025
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