FHS JROTC Hosts U.S. Space Force Official

The Falcon High School Space Force JROTC hosted Chief Master Sergeant John Bentivegna of the U.S. Space Force on Thursday, Feb. 20.

“This is an incredible opportunity for the JROTC unit and our cadets to showcase their program,” said JROTC Instructor retired Air Force Maj. Tony Wise. “Having such a senior military leader visit a high school is extremely rare.” 

Bentivegna, in town visiting the U.S. Space Command, took time to meet and speak with JROTC members and other students.

“I'm looking out to the future. The future of our nation. That's you. You are the future. When I retire, and I'm sitting on a rocking chair somewhere, I know that you're going to be taking care of me and my family. You are the bright future with unlimited opportunities,” Bentivegna told the crowd in the FHS auditorium. 

Speaking directly to the JROTC members he said, “You are taking an active role and investing in your personal future, which relates to the future of the nation. You're investing in yourself. It's not easy, the additional classes and courses and responsibilities that you've accepted, being in Junior ROTC, as if high school isn't crazy enough and hard enough.” 

“I'm sure you're learning, right, that you can't do things all alone. You have teammates and teamwork that will help you get things done together. You're learning your strengths and your weaknesses.  You're learning that you have leadership potential within you, that you have influence. You don't necessarily need a title. These are all foundational things that will benefit you for the rest of your entire life, whether you are going into a service job or enlisting, or you're going to go to college where you're going to become a doctor, a lawyer, a community leader, a teacher. These are all skills that benefit you in the future,” Bentivegna said.

 

Bentivegna talked about his career journey, then imparted to the students a lot of advice he gained along the way. In summary, he covered the following themes:

• Have faith in yourself, be confident.
• Have the hard conversations.
• Invest in yourself.
• Be a lifelong learner.
• Surround yourself with a good team, and rely on them. 
• Life is hard. 

He was optimistic about the future of space and all it has to offer for military defense as well as tourism. 

“One of the things that I take pride in is our ability for free or unfettered access to space,” Bentivegna said. “So that the dreamers can dream, innovators can innovate, explorers can explore. Maybe some of you in this very room will get into the business industry to make those visions. These opportunities are a reality for us. We need innovators, critical thinkers. People to think outside the box in whatever capacity you do when you graduate, whatever journey path you're on, I need you to help this vision become a reality. I need you to inspire the generation behind you, to allow that to happen, to grow them and challenge them.”

Following the speech and Q&A session, Bentivegna handed out three military coins. He gave a coin each to FHS JROTC cadet leaders Alyson Landon and Grace Suerdieck. He also presented a coin to JROTC Instructor retired Senior Master Sergeant Bill Hartley.

FHS JROTC cadet leaders Grace Suerdieck and Alyson Landon receive coins. 

 

Landon and Suerdieck provided a briefing to Bentivegna on the activities and accomplishments of FHS JROTC. 

“Anytime you get an opportunity for our students to experience life beyond the walls of the school and see a leadership they can inspire too it is beneficial,” FHS Principal Seann O’Conner said after hearing Bentivegna’s speech. “He was very authentic with them. The kids did a great job of engaging so I have high hopes that this was impactful for them. I don’t think our kids can hear enough about leadership. He brought a tangibility to them about it with an aspirational force of, ‘I can do that.’”

Wise said, “The students hear it from us, they see it from us. But today they got to see the active duty side of it, the integrity, the service before self, the excellence in everything he does and represents. We are seeing someone that walks the walk, and talks the talk. The advice he shared with them is invaluable.”  

Bentivegna serves at the highest enlisted level of leadership and provides direction for the enlisted force representing their interests to the American public and to those in all levels of government. He acts as the personal advisor to the Chief of Space Operations and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, proper utilization, and development of the U.S. Space Force.

 Grace Suerdieck and Alyson Landon provide a briefing.