By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
An open house at the Army National Guard’s Sitka Armory Jan. 16 will celebrate the reopening of the armory, at 1508 Sawmill Creek Road, and the launching of the Guard’s Explorer after-school program.
As part of the food and festivities at the 6-8 p.m. event, the National Guard will provide information on the start of the year-round Explorer after-school program, designed to provide eligible cadets with leadership skills.
“The Explorer program is being fully funded by the Alaska Army National Guard,” said SFC Justin A. Mullenix.
Alaska Army National Guardsman SFC Justin Mullenix stands outside the guard’s building on Sawmill Creek Road Tuesday. The National Guard celebrates the reopening of the armory Jan. 16. (Sentinel Photo)
Mullenix, the Sitka recruiting and retention NCO for the National Guard said it’s “an opportunity for participants, hereafter cadets, to learn leadership, life skills, citizenship, and character education while exploring career opportunities in and out of the Alaska Army National Guard. All eligible cadets enrolled in the program will be able to participate in all Explorer training events.”
The program is open to high school students between the ages of 14 and 20. They will be required to complete an application form, sign a medical disclosure form (for safety), and a behavior contract, and get parental consent. They must also be in good standing with their school as to passing grades and attendance.
The program “will provide cadets with a positive, meaningful real world career experiences and leadership development opportunities in their chosen field of interest,” Mullenix said. “They will be more responsible and productive citizens within the communities they live. They will be better prepared for life after high school regardless of the path they choose, military or civilian.”
The program will be provided at no cost to the cadets, with all expenses, including uniforms, provided by the Alaska Army National Guard.
Mullenix said participants do not sign a contract for the military, but there are opportunities for those who want to choose that option.
“Benefits like the GI Bill to pay for college, Federal Tuition Assistance, up to 100 percent state tuition assistance, and up to $20,000 sign-on bonuses, etc. are reserved for those qualified high school juniors and seniors that wish to pursue a career in the Alaska Army National Guard and meet with a local recruiter to begin the process,” Mullenix said.
Some of the basic Explorers program activities will include training in leadership, land navigation, survival, engineering, culinary arts, and duties as a member of the Army National Guard.
Other training includes moving as a member of a fire team, patrol techniques, wear and appearance of military uniforms, camouflaging self and equipment, and drill and ceremonies.
“Cadets will also request and learn about different careers in the military that they’re interested in, such as Military Police, Combat Medic, Engineer, Mechanic, Aviation, Combat Arms, Administrative and many more,” Mullenix said. “Once they learn about the military careers we then partner with local businesses and other government agencies to see what those career fields look like on the civilian side,” he said.
There will be opportunities for cadets to take on leadership roles and gain experience .... We plan to develop a color guard team – a team that marches and performs ceremonies with the U.S. and other flags – that would participate in parades and other community and school activities.”
Mullenix said the program is designed to be ongoing, so cadets will have the option of attending the entire time they’re in high school.
The program is being overseen by a committee of adult volunteers including Mt. Edgecumbe and Sitka High School principals and staff members, and they have agreed to allow cadets to wear the Explorer uniform in school on the days of the events.
The committee chairman is Alaska Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major John Phlegar, and committee members include MEHS academic principal Bernie Gurule, SHS principal Laura Rogers, MEHS resident principal Andrew Friske, and MEHS academic counselor Joel Lueders.
Program instructors are Post Adviser Mullenix and associate advisers Jeremy DeTemple and Jason Bibral.
Starting with the Jan. 16 open house, the Explorer program will initially meet every other Wednesday (Jan. 30, Feb 13, Feb 27, etc.) from 6 to 9 p.m., Mullenex said. There also will be occasional Saturday meetings, and as the program goes on and if the Cadets want more, then they will meet more often.
“We are encouraging anyone interested in learning more about the program to come to our open house,” he said. “We’re looking for adult volunteers – with or without military experience – and youth 14-20 years of age that might be interested in the program.”
