Everglades High School - JROTC

JROTC

The JROTC program at Everglades is currently headed by SAI Colonel (Ret.) Dennis W. Teitge who has led the program since its initiation in 2004. He is a man who cares very much for his program and has stayed with it since its inauguration in 2004. He not only works with his cadets to see his program succeed, but to also see his cadets grow and learn what it means to be a citizen leader. The colonel is currently assisted by his AIs 1SG (Ret.) Torres and SFC (Ret.) Arias. The program has maintained an Honor Unit with Distinction (HUD) status since 2007 and has sent cadets to several competitive national conventions such as: The George C. Marshal Leadership Symposium, and the JROTC Academic Bowl. Both of these conventions are competitive and cadets compete from all over the world to obtain admission (including Hawaii, US bases in Japan and Germany, and all throughout the continental states). Some retired AIs from Everglades include: SGM (Ret.) Middleton, SGM (Ret.) Lagas, 1SG (Ret.) Bradshaw, 1SG (Ret.) Rivera, SFC (Ret.) Singleton, and 1SG (Ret.) Sosa.

The first Battalion Commander of the Everglades JROTC was Cadet LTC Ruben Veliz who served from 2003–05 and was the only Battalion Commander to serve multiple school years due to a school lacking a senior class. His first Executive Officer was Cadet MAJ Muthra, who was later replaced by Cadet MAJ Meghan Tallon in 2005. Other notable members of his staff included Cadet SGM Jared Bassel, Cadet CPT Jamar Germain (S-1),Cadet CPT Miguel Davis (S-2),Cadet Captain Nicole Morales (S-4), Cadet CPT Steven Bassett (S-5),Cadet CPT Figueroa (S-6),Cadet CPT Ajo (Company Commander), and Cadet CPT Delapaz (Company Commander), among others.

In May 2005 Cadet LTC Meghan Tallon became the active Battalion Commander With Cadet CSM Darrel Zimmer as her Battalion Sergeant Major.Her Staff Included Cadet MAJ Jamar Germain as the Battalion Executive Officer,Cadet CPT Maria Rivero (S-1),Cadet 2LT Benjamin Ariza (S-2),Cadet CPT Georgian Pertrestco (S-3), Cadet 2LT Mitchel Valencia (S-4),Cadet CPT Steven Bassett (S-5), Cadet CPT Carlos Beltran (S-6)

Under Cadet LTC Tallon the Gator Battalion participated in the Broward County Drill Meet, The Superintendents Pass and Review, and she also initiated the first Gator Games, Gator Olympics, and Gator Drill Down at the encouragment of COL Teitge. She was the first and still is the only cadet to not participate in the county's Cadet of the Year Competition. The Battalion received its highest marks on their annual Inspection By the County SAI with Cadet CPT Maria Rivero (S-1), Cadet CPT Petresco (S-3) Operations scoring a 92% and Cadet CPT Bassett (S-5) Public Affairs Officer scoring a 97%.

In 2006 Cadet LTC Tallon graduated and was replaced by Cadet LTC Maria Rivero as the active Battalion Commander. Her staff served as the first staff at Everglades High School to undergo the tri-annual 6th Brigade inspection, which the unit is a part of. Cadet Rivero's chosen staff included Cadet SGM Joshua Iverson (Sergeant Major), Cadet MAJ Carlos Beltran (XO), Cadet CPT Anthony Ghezzi (S-1), Cadet CPT Ben Arriza (S-2). Cadet CPT Steven Bassett (S-5)