Stanhope Elmore High School junior Maria Escobar is used to being in charge.
As the executive officer and cadet major of the school’s JROTC program, she is second in command of the student ranks with about 158 student cadets under her. Now Escobar is also a state vice president, the third person in state student command of an organization with nearly 16,000 student cadets. She is the first from Stanhope Elmore to ever be selected for a state JROTC office.
“She is a phenomenal student leader,” SEHS JROTC instructor Sgt. Maj. Nathaniel Bartee said. “I see a leader that she has the leadership skills to get things done, to influence others. She also has the compassion to lead the other kids to do what's right.”
As a student leader in the SEHS JROTC program, Escobar is also on its academic, PT and cyber patriot teams. Moreover, she is secretary of Stanhope’s National Honor Society, vice president of the English Honor Society and is a member of the Beta Club and DECA.
The state JROTC position will require Escobar to travel around Alabama to observe and speak with other JROTC programs. She will also represent the students when meeting Alabama State Department of Education leaders.
“She's the right person for this position to speak on behalf of the student body for all JROTC and (career tech student organization) positions,” Bartee said.
Escobar found out about the state organization and its leadership positions last summer. With the help of Bartee, she became one of 35 applicants and one of 15 interviewed for five vice presidents, one for each branch.
“I hadn't even imagined being part of this association and being nominated, interviewed or even receiving vice president,” Escobar said.
There are only two students in Alabama above her in the organization.
Escobar is now well established in JROTC. But just a few years ago, she wasn’t too sure about it. As a freshman, she thought about leaving the program, but then Escobar became more active. She visited Millbrook Middle School and saw the influence JROTC cadets have on the youth. Escobar also saw how JROTC fit in with other career tech student organizations.
“I also liked how juniors and seniors in JROTC have such an influence on younger students,” Escobar said. “We get to encourage them and help them find their way.”
Escobar’s sophomore year in JROTC saw her taking on several leadership roles and understanding how junior officers and leaders report up the chain of command. Her growth in two years is one of the reasons Escobar has excelled. She has helped lead several of the teams within JROTC to success, something that extended into her time as executive officer (XO).
“When I was told that I was going to be battalion XO, I knew that my expectations needed to rise to a completely different standard,” Escobar said. “I just needed to come to the occasion. I have such a passion for this program, just when it comes to teaching and being a leader, but still being able to follow and seeing other people progress, that's just the thing that keeps me going.”
Escobar’s success at Stanhope Elmore and in JROTC has her aiming to join the Army National Guard and the Army ROTC program at UAB.
“I eventually want to become an officer and work on base as a psychiatrist to help our veterans with PTSD,” Escobar said.
