Sheppard first sergeants give $2,000 to JROTC Published May 20, 2009 By Debi Smith 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- First sergeants begin and end the day thinking of ways to take care of junior enlisted personnel. Constantly on the move with ideas and seeking opportunities, they raised $2,000 in one day by selling pizzas with just the purpose of doing something big for community youth. This was the first year the council decided to go off base, said Master Sgt. John Myers, 82nd Mission Support Squadron first sergeant. We "wanted to think of the future of the Air Force and cultivate the next generation. What better way than to reach out to the area Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps," he said. Retired Master Sergeant Bill Fox, a JROTC coordinator at Burkburnett High School, fosters the future by teaching what he learned during his own Air Force career to an annual group of Air Force JROTC cadets. Mr. Fox said he learned about the donation during the Annual JROTC Banquet May 1. "Because certain equipment can't be purchased by the Air Force or by the school and other needs like wheel caps or practice rifles are expensive, this donation will make a huge difference," Mr. Fox said. "It couldn't have come at a better time. We partner with the Arlington High School JROTC to put on a summer camp at Midwestern State University and this will really help." Master Sgt. Wendell Pugh, the council president, presented the $1,000 check to Chevey Gill, the JROTC commander, a junior at Burkburnett High. Sergeant Pugh said Burkburnett was just the first stop for the first sergeants. Next week they'll travel to Wichita Falls and donate another $1,000 check to the Rider High School Army JROTC team. The first sergeants are already looking ahead at another project. They plan on raising enough money to donate a marble POW/MIA bench for the base Heritage Center so people can sit, reflect and enjoy the POW/MIA memorial.