Education 9th JROTC Battalion connects students with careers through service-learning project
ANSBACH, Germany – Cadets from the 9th JROTC Battalion at Ansbach Middle High School led a service-learning project that helped students and cadets explore potential career paths while building their own leadership and professional communication skills.
The 2026 project was facilitated by Cadet 2nd Lt. Bailey Eickmeyer and Cadet Ltc Victoria Ortiz, who used a Gantt chart to plan and organize tasks, a tool the battalion first utilized during last year’s service-learning partnership with K9s For Warriors. The cadet leadership team coordinated outreach to local organizations, scheduled student placements, and monitored progress throughout the project.
The goal was to engage 15 percent of the eligible student body in job shadowing experiences with community partners. In total, 25 cadets and students participated, representing approximately 41 percent of the eligible population, far exceeding the original participation goal.
Cadets emailed 17 organizations in the surrounding community, and fourteen organizations ultimately hosted students for job shadow experiences, and every participating student received their first and second placement choices. This allowed students to spend time in fields they were genuinely interested in, such as Criminal investigation, Legal fields, healthcare, veterinary clinics, public affairs, Military police, Army Corps of Engineers, and Aviation with 12th Cab.
Throughout the project, cadets strengthened their professional skills, particularly in written and verbal communication. Cadet Maj Jazlyn Symack served as the project recorder and was the primary point of contact with all participating organizations by phone. In this role, she learned how to introduce herself professionally, leave clear messages, and represent the battalion and school with confidence.
“Having to call and talk to the organizations helped me learn to talk professionally,” Said Symack.
For many students who were undecided about their future careers, the job shadowing experiences provided valuable clarity. By observing professionals on the job and asking questions about education, training, and day-to-day responsibilities, students gained a better understanding of what different careers actually look like in practice. Several cadets reported that seeing the realities of work in their areas of interest helped them confirm or reconsider their plans after high school.
Cadet SSG Jada Madison, who participated in the job shadow with the MPs, said “We learned about the real lives behind the jobs,”.
After the job shadowing day concluded, Cadets Victoria Ortiz, Maddie Cobbett, Jazlyn Symak, and Oliosaga Comrier prepared and delivered a briefing to several participating organizations and the school’s vice principal. The presentation highlighted project planning, student experiences, lessons learned, and the positive impact on both cadets and the wider student body. This final briefing gave cadets another opportunity to practice public speaking, present data, and formally report the outcomes of their service-learning project.
Through this project, 9th JROTC cadets not only connected their peers with meaningful career exploration opportunities but also enhanced their own leadership, planning, and communication skills, demonstrating the JROTC mission of developing better citizens for tomorrow.
