Air Force JROTC program taking off at Kiski Area High School

Kiski Area High School senior Alexei Cramer is a young man on a mission.

Cramer of Avonmore began pushing for the district to create a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, or JROTC, program when he was a freshman.

The district formally approved creating an Air Force JROTC program last year, and Cramer is leading the inaugural class of 58 cadets as group commander.

“Seeing everyone happy with it has been the best part for me,” said Cramer, who wants to pursue an aviation career in the Air Force or Navy after graduating from college. “Seeing people who were maybe not the most social before and now they have friends and they talk to people — that’s just what I wanted to happen.”

The yearlong elective course meets twice weekly, and the unit was busy practicing drills on campus Saturday.

The cadets are led by Kiski Area High School alumnus and retired Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Dawn Serakowski of Allegheny Township.

The goal is for cadets to develop a knowledge of the traditions of the Air Force, habits of orderliness and precision, respect for and an understanding of constituted authority in a democratic society, personal honor, self-reliance, leadership and the fundamentals of aerospace doctrine.

Other course components include health and wellness and drills.

All uniforms are provided by the Air Force, and there are no fees to participate.

Other JROTC programs in the Alle-Kiski Valley include ones at Valley High School (Army) and Plum Senior High School (Air Force).

The Kiski Area unit includes nine female cadets.

“I’m not sure what I want to do after school yet, so I thought this would be a good way to test it out and see what it’s like,” said female cadet Sawyar Zanotti.

Cramer said he’d like to see enrollment increase and has set a goal for the program to have at least 100 cadets by 2023.

“I’m happy with our numbers now, but it’s a great way to make friends. Everybody is learning teamwork: That’s the biggest thing,” Cramer said.