Tuesday morning, they were just 10 of about 2,530 students at school at Plant City High School.
But within two months, those 10, of 583 PCHS seniors, will be well on their ways to serving as part of the United States military.
For the first time, PCHS held a Military Signing Day, a day when those students will soon sign off from textbooks and school bells and sign in to boot camp, drills, training and possibly future careers in the armed services.
Starting at 8 a.m. in the high school’s media center, sitting along a row of tables, the students listened as representatives of various military branches spoke words of reflection, inspiration and encouragement. In front of the student was a faux “official” contract, awaiting each of their signatures of commitment.
Just after the “signing,” Michael Houghtling, 18, stood pondering his committal decision.
“It’s really going good, knowing everything is coming together,” he said. “I hope in the future to become a Marine officer, to become a pilot in the Marines and then retire.”
The other signees were: Jordanny Vicente, 17, Marines; Scott Ledbetter, 17, Army; Alejandro Carrizales, 18, Marines; Matthew Bollinger, 18, Marines; Johanna Munguia, 17, Army National Guard; Ayanna Helms, 17, Army; Briann Hawthorne, Navy; Jeremiah Futch, 17, Marines; Anna Jimenez, 18, Army Reserves.
The Military Signing Day was conceived by Tricia Shinneman, a PCHS Parent Teacher Student Association board member. Her son Zachary Shinneman, now 20, was is a 2022 PCHS graduate and is now a Guardian in the U.S. Space Force.
Shinneman said she thought it was important the students to be acknowledged for the military life path decisions they’ve made.
“I want them to know there’s a community behind them,” said Shinneman, who also has daughter at PCHS, Chloe, 17. “We need to support these kids, to celebrate their decisions and for them to know they have our support.”
At the signing day, official representatives of U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army and U.S. Army National Guard were present. Those representatives included Master Sgt. Martin Soto, the PCHS Reserve Officers’ Training Corps coordinator.
During the signing, Soto said the new recruits may get a “shock treatment” when they get into the military seeing “things they’ve never seen before.” But, he added, if they stick with it — even in “difficult times” — military service benefits can last a lifetime.
“If you stay there for more than 10 (years), continue going, do not get out. The military is a well-oiled machine, they will take care of you, your family” said Soto, a 27-year U.S. Army veteran and former field artillery non-commissioned officer who joined the military in 1984. “When I look at you, I see myself. Do good and the Army will take care of you, the Air Force will take care of you, everybody will take care of you.”
The future formal induction of the PCHS seniors into the various military branches is crucial. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, through Dec. 2023 through fiscal year 2024, the U.S. recruiting market is “challenging.” The Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force achieved their fiscal-year-to-date recruiting missions through Dec. 2023; Army was short 2,109; Navy 2,924. From the reserves, only Marine Corps Reserve achieved its recruiting mission.
Another officer at the signing, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joe Cieslo, retired, PCHS senior Army instructor, said the signing of the students into the military should be noted just as the signing of athletes is.
“This is the real thing. Just like the signing of athletes, it’s just as important to recognize these students who have also made great career decisions to serve our country,” he said.
Shinneman said the plan is to have Military Signing Day an annual event at PCHS.