Throughout the year, the Fort Lauderdale High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) helps with several community events.

NJROTC Hosts a Blood Drive

On November 9, the Flying L Battalion organized their annual blood drive, “…to aid the community in need,” said Mary Sophie Huguet (12). 

The Blood Drive Committee was led by Cadet Ensign Huguet and Cadet Ensign Saniyah Boursiquot (12), with assistance from NJROTC class cadets and cadet staff. The Committee assisted the doctors at the Blood Drive by “[. . .] recruiting people to donate blood,[and] providing them with food and drinks,” replied Cadet Ensign Boursiquot. 

For anyone wanting to get involved, another Blood Drive will take place in February 2024. 

The Harvest Drive receives NJROTC Assistance

For years, The Flying L Battalion has assisted the FLHS Harvest Drive. Throughout the entire week, for families picking their holiday food boxes, cadets help with the unloading and sorting of items.

“It starts when the bus returns from the day of pick-ups from schools around the District, as the bus pulls in [to the bus loop] the cadets unload the donation boxes and bags which they bring up to the media centre,” said Chief Tyson. “The following days all of NJROTC classes go to the media centre and help sort and separate the non-expired food boxes and cans into specific tables into food groups ie: veggies, gravies etc.” 

On the last day when families come to pick up their assorted goods, The NJROTC Drill Team helps out with the distribution. 

The Flying L Battalion stands for the community and seeks to teach its cadets a sense of camaraderie, citizenship, and to support others who are disadvantaged. 

“Our program is designed to help make our cadets better citizens and to be servants to those who need our help but those who we can teach, and to make better leaders in the future,” said Chief Tyson. “It makes our cadets feel better about doing something for our school, Battalion but for the community also. It gives them a feeling of pride and accomplishment knowing they did something that will make some families have a wonderful, blessed and happy Thanksgiving which they might have not otherwise.”