With the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps’ help, Spicewood Elementary students were able to reenact the Civil War as part of part of their Colonial Unit on March 11.

“A lot of them are really receptive to it, and they learn a lot,” Cadet Colonel Charles Wiemann ‘15 said. “I think putting together the educational experience they already had with this kind of small representation solidifies their learning, and I think that helps make a better educational experience overall.”

This is a yearly event that JROTC attends in order to teach fifth graders a little bit about the military. Students learned how to turn, chant, and carry out different drills. After numerous team bonding activities, there was a Civil War battle simulation between the Union and the Confederates.

“They all got to wear costumes, and make little flour bombs,” Head Coordinator Daniela Ruiz ‘15 said. “I went to Spicewood, so I remember doing it myself. It’s great and was so much fun. I loved it.”

This event has been a tradition for the past five to twelve years, so the preparation the Command Staff has to go through is quite routine.

“To prepare, we have continuity records, just binders and binders of of them. One of those is a detailed report about exactly what we did last year, what we need to do to prepare for it, what we need to do the day of and on the way out,” Wiemann said. “So basically we just go over that and we are prepared.”

JROTC juniors and seniors are usually the ones to participate in the event, and many underclassmen look forward to this event.

“What I like the best is just being able to hang out with the kids,” Ruiz said. “They are all super great over there at Spicewood, and we have a really fun time with them. They are always really excited about it; they always ask questions and learn a bunch.”