CHESTER, PA- Could you imagine being a high schooler in front of 19,000 people and having to stay perfectly still? 

Well, on Saturday, October 19th, the North Penn High School JROTC unit did just that, as they represented North Pennl and showed their pride in our country by performing the color guard at the Philadelphia Union’s final match against Cincinnati FC at Subaru Park. Although the Union suffered a crushing  2-1 defeat to end the season in a non-playoff spot, it was an amazing opportunity for some North Penn students. 

“I have been a soccer fan for a good amount of my life I even played soccer and I lived in Philly, so doing the colorguard at a Philidelphia Union game is a dream of mine, ” said Thomas Judge, a Cadet Basic Airman. 

As Judge marched to the center of the field for the first time in front of 18,500 people one would expect the nerves must have been high.

“I’ve had experience in front of large crowds from marching bands on big fields. I was nervous but once I got here it’s toned down a little,” Judge said. 

Judge joined the JROTC to set himself up for life after high school. 

“After high school, I want a life in the military as either a Navy or a Marine Corps officer. I think it will give me good leadership skills,” he explained.

When the unit arrived they navigated the hustle and bustle of the busy stadium into a backroom where they could set up before doing a practice march across the field. Once they finished rehearsing they had forty-five minutes to calm the nerves, grab a bite to eat, and make sure the uniforms were in perfect order. During this time Cadet Master Sergeant, Sayef Motawasset explained his experience at events like this one. 

“There’s so many people watching you, so many people seeing what you do. While not all of them see every imperfection, but they will see if you really mess up,” said Sayef who dreams of being a fighter pilot in the Air Force. 

Once the forty-five minutes had passed it was time to march from the backroom, through the crowded hallway As passersby clapped and cheered for them, they walked onto the field and stood in perfect formation. The national anthem was sung, the fireworks were fired, and they marched off the field. An excellent job from the North Penn JROTC but who was there to teach them how to do it? That would be Major Parmiter, who is a retired Air Force Major and the senior aerospace instructor for the JROTC program.

“When our cadets put on the uniform they are representing North Penn but, when they announce us no one hears it unless they are a North Penn graduate. So when people see the uniform they see the United States Air Force, or they see the United States of America, so when we go out there we are representing the entire nation, therefore it’s important that we look right and we do it right and we carry ourselves with dignity and respect for what we’re doing,” Parmiter said. 

“I will give you the secret to doing this and doing right, the secret is don’t screw up!” quipped Parmiter.  

Overall, it was a great day for the North Penn JROTC as they successfully completed the color guard.