Members of Paschal High School’s Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps participate in a unique activity not typical for all high school cadets.
The Paschal Army JROTC program operates concession and pretzel stands at the Amon G. Carter Stadium during the Texas Christian University home football games.
JROTC instructor, Terry Leboeuf, supervises 251 Paschal cadets. Each game day, 60 of those cadets work the concession stands. Cadets arrive at the stadium three hours prior to game time to open the concessions.
He said that working the TCU concession stands is a teamwork event.
“Kids get to work together as a team to become involved and to learn different skills that they can take into the workforce later on in life,” Leboeuf said.
Each cadet working the concession stand has a different job, including operating the cash register and filling orders.
“Towards half time, we may have a dozen people lined up at the 18 cash registers,” Leboeuf said. “So it gets very hectic. The kids have to work together as a team so that we can put out the product to the public appropriately.”
The weekend work doesn’t only exist as a team building exercise. Leboeuf said each year the money the cadets raise while operating the concession stands is used for the military ball, a formal event for cadets, parents and guests.
“We have a sit down dinner, a dance, and most importantly we farewell our seniors,” Leboeuf said.
The money from the concession stands will also be used to fund the four drill meets the cadets participate in this year. The meets include both competitive shooting and academics.
Leboeuf said that he thinks the kids get a lot out of working the concession stands.
“I like working the concession stands. I get to meet college kids, which is pretty cool,” cadet Jordan Bandy said.
The cadets will next be working the stands for the last home game of the season against Baylor on Nov. 27.