Just this school year, Greece Athena High School launched a JROTC program for the first time ever, which many students gladly returned to in the new year.

The program is so new the students don’t even have uniforms yet — but that’s OK. 

“We just started this year, and we’ve already made leaps and bounds in setting up what needs to be done,” said senior Leslie Cook.

Cook has aspirations of joining the Air Force after some college.

“I come from a military family, so being a part of the military is something I’ve always thought about,” Cook said.

And junior Charles Gallagher is in the same boat.

“It’s just in my blood. It’s something I’ve wanted since I was a young kid, and it’s never really changed,” Gallagher said.

But this program at Greece Athena isn’t about getting students ready for the military. It’s about community, and life skills.

“You don’t enlist when you join this," Gallagher said. "We want to just inspire leadership in general.”

Cook says he’s gained confidence.

“When I first joined up, I was very shy of everyone," Cook said. "Standing in front of a camera would’ve been out of the question entirely.”

And Gallagher says he’s learned anyone can lead.

“As long as you can inspire leadership, you are a leader," Gallagher said. "As long as you can get people to follow you, you are a leader.”

They’ll be going to Ohio to show off everything they’ve learned, presenting colors at the Cleveland Cavaliers game in February.