Farmington R-7 HS Air Force JROTC

Congratulations to Cadet Cale Craig on graduating from the 54th Missouri Cadet Patrol Academy! Thank you for leading by example with your dedication, growth, and heart for service. 🇺🇸

This week, 21 young men & women ages 16-18 from across the state participated in the Missouri Cadet Patrol Academy. American Legion sponsors this week long recruit-like experience. Congratulations to the 54th Class of the Missouri Cadet Patrol Academy on their graduation today!

Five of our cadets recently returned from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Junior Rifle Camp in Anniston, Ala., where they participated in a week of advanced instruction and hands-on training. Throughout the camp, cadets worked on improving their shooting positions, optimizing rifle and equipment performance, and developing mental skills such as controlling anxiety and maintaining positive self-talk, among many other topics.
The camp concluded with a formal 3x20 competition and final round, where four of our five shooters advanced to the Top 8 Finals. Leading the way were Cale Craig, who earned 1st place, and Tori Siddle, who finished 2nd place overall.
The cadets also enjoyed some well-earned downtime, including a surprise "Dress a Cadet/Coach" challenge. Participants were given only a mystery person's clothing sizes and sent to a thrift store to create an outfit. Everyone then had to wear their assigned outfit out to dinner and bowling!
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the 67 Gun Club Inc - Farmington MO, Cedar Falls Tactical and Arcadia Sporting Goods, Inc., IAC Fi****ms Training and everyone who supported our fundraisers or provided donations. Your support helped make this outstanding training opportunity possible for our cadets, and we are grateful for your investment in their growth and success.

Cadet Victoria Siddle proudly represented our Air Force JROTC program at the St. Francois County Memorial Day Ceremony, where she laid a wreath in honor of the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We are honored to have been part of this year’s ceremony and to continue remembering those who gave everything in service to our nation.

As I wrap up my final day with MO-961 AFJROTC, I’m flooded with gratitude. Watching our cadets grow from nervous first-year students into confident, disciplined leaders has been the ultimate reward and rivals all my accomplishments while in the military.

Starting in July, I will take over MO-20061 in St. Clair. My contact info will be [email protected]. Feel free to reach out, especially to partner in things to grow our units and cadets, side by side. I follow this page and expect to see even greater things going forward.

Thank you to everyone who made this chapter so special—the parents, SMSgt Hinson, and most importantly, the cadets. You are the future, and the future looks incredibly bright. Keep aiming high, stay disciplined, and take care of one another.

A special shout out to SMSgt Hinson! Thank you for embracing the changes I made, being the force that kept us organized, and giving so much of yourself for our cadets. I can only move on because you showed my the way.

Finally, as of today, both SMSgt Hinson and I will be solo instructors next year. Please give her grace and take things off her plate so she can do what she does best, change Cadet's lives for the better!

A huge thank you to the members of the 67 Gun Club Inc - Farmington MO for their generous support of our marksmanship program!

Marksmanship Commander Cale Craig and fellow cadets recently presented the club with a certificate of appreciation during their monthly meeting in recognition of their donation, which is helping our cadets offset costs for the Civilian Marksmanship Program Junior Rifle Camp they will attend this summer in Anniston, Ala.

Cadets also had the opportunity to observe how organizations conduct meetings and handle business operations, making it a valuable learning experience beyond marksmanship training.

We truly appreciate the continued support from the 67 Gun Club, Inc.!

Cadets performed at their last official event of the school year — the FHS Graduation Ceremony. Congratulations again to the graduates of the Class of 2026! 🎓🫡🖤💛

MO-961 AFJROTC Cadets had an incredible opportunity to experience what it’s like to fly in a Black Hawk helicopter! Cadets learned about the specialized training required in aviation operations, maintenance, and safety procedures, along with the importance of readiness, teamwork, and leadership in Army aviation.

A huge thank you to Missouri National Guard, MOARNG (Farmington) recruiter SFC Kyle Mayberry, 35th Combat Aviation Brigade, B-Co, 1-135th Assault Helicopter Battalion out of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and Farmington Missouri Regional Airport for coordinating this amazing event and giving our cadets the chance to learn about aviation career opportunities through this unforgettable experience!

To our Senior Class of 2026 -- it’s been a privilege watching you grow, succeed, and make your mark. We are so proud of all you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see where life takes each of you next. Wishing you success, happiness, and unforgettable adventures in all your future endeavors.