Waukegan High School’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) was founded before American involvement in World War I more than a century ago, and now 18 cadets are involved in a competition where they are ensconced in the technology of 2025.
Competing virtually against other JROTC programs across the state, Waukegan’s CyberPatriots diagnose and fix cybersecurity problems with computer operating systems. The more secure the team makes the system, the higher its score.
Cadet Jerome Abella, a Waukegan High senior, is a member of one of two teams. He said this year’s competition, which ended on Jan. 24 for the two teams, was the best the local team has done. They are newer to the competition.
“This is a competition where we work with our teammates,” Abella said. “We help each other to defend the company from cyberattacks. We make the system secure.”
CyberPatriots is one of a number of opportunities Waukegan High JROTC cadets have to enable them to help the organization fulfill its mission of becoming better citizens by serving the school and the greater Waukegan community throughout the year.
Maj. Ronald Painter, the school’s senior army instructor and JROTC chair, said the organization’s mission is inspiring young people to become better citizens. Some join out of an interest in the military, others for comradery, some to earn their required gym credit and more.
Retiring from the U.S. Army Reserve in 2020 after 24 years of service, Painter said he and his family decided to settle in the Chicago area. He learned about the JROTC job in Waukegan and took the position leading a 108-year-old organization. The local JROTC started in 1916.
“We’re one of the oldest in the country,” Painter said. “I’ve had cadets whose mothers and fathers were in the JROTC. Some have grandfathers who joined. I haven’t had any fourth-generation cadets yet.”
A family affair for Abella, he said he joined as a freshman in part because his brother was a junior and already climbed the ranks of a cadet. He also thought it would be a good alternative to a regular gym class.
“I made commander my junior year,” he said. “I played the role of teacher (for the CyberPatriots). I taught the new freshmen about computers. I taught them about problem-solving.”
Sgt.Maj. Chad Bourne, an Army instructor with the program and the CyberPatriots club sponsor, said the program is in its sixth year and reached the semifinals of its division for the first time competing against other teams virtually last week. They are awaiting their final results.
“Both teams did real well,” Bourne said. “Everyone was working together. Some parts were hard, but they worked as a team to solve the problems. They really got immersed in it. They work hard and learn from each other.”
When the competition started earlier in the year, Bourne said teams were divided into three classifications — platinum for the top 30%, gold for the middle 40% and silver for the final 30%. Waukegan was placed in the silver category.
Reaching the semifinals is as far as gold and silver teams advance. Bourne said doing well in the platinum group can earn a trip to the national finals, which are conducted in a live setting rather than virtually. There were 3,400 groups competing nationwide including the two from Waukegan.
With 340 students currently participating in the program, it is one of the largest activities at the school. From presenting the colors at sporting events to volunteering around the community, Painter said they inspire good citizenship in a variety of ways.
Right now, the JROTC members are leading a Valentines for Veterans program to let people who served in the military know they are special. Abella said it is one of several community service programs they do.
“We become better citizens helping with community service projects,” he said. “There’s Valentines for Veterans, highway cleanup. There are so many opportunities.”
Starting as freshmen, Painter said they learn how to be a cadet by properly wearing their uniform and contributing. As sophomores, they assume leadership roles working with groups of freshmen under their supervision. Leadership responsibilities expand as juniors and even more as seniors.
“They’re running the program as seniors,” Painter said “They are responsible for things like human resources, support, logistics and marketing.”
