Lieutenant Colonel Luther L. Kennedy, United States Air Force, retired, recently received the Outstanding Instructor Award from Colonel Brian King, director of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. The award stemmed from his efforts in the 2000-2001 school year.
Kennedy heads the Westland High School JROTC program. With the help of Sergeant William Hoy, Kennedy has kept the Westland squad running for the last 15 years.
Kennedy was commissioned into the Air Force after graduating at Memphis State in 1960. His plan was to teach chemistry. But there was a twenty-year put-off from education; when he finally entered the field, his experience in the military moved him into JROTC education.
The outset of his military career landed him in administrative roles in southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. By the end of his career, he was the US Forces Executive officer assigned to embassy security in the Middle East.
When a gang of kids overran the US Embassy in Iran in 1980, and a subsequent mishap in securing the embassy workers went south, Kennedy decided to turn in his papers and retire from the military. He came back to the US to teach.
He started at Warren in the early 80s, then came to Westland to command the O-11 (Westland’s JROTC program). O-11 was the very first Air Force JROTC in the United States, originally at Pleasantview.
Reflecting on his duties at Westland, Kennedy said he couldn’t have a better job. He said his award should have gone to Hoy, whom Kennedy refers to as “Sarge”.
“He’s a workhorse,” said Kennedy.
Hoy couldn’t agree more about the value of his job. He said, “I couldn’t have a better job in the world. Where else could I yell at a bunch of brats everyday and tell them they’re a bunch of brats?” His quirky smile immediately lets you in on the fact that he’s not the tyrant he tries to project.
Kennedy and Hoy instruct a JROTC class of 96 cadets. They also instruct summer classes called the Ohio Valley JROTC Summer School. This course is hosted around various locales in the Ohio Valley area.
Most of Westland’s JROTC program revolves around basic military training, focusing heavily on discipline. Many a Westland student has heard that characteristic crack of Hoy’s voice snapping orders in the hall to remove a hat or stand still for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Being able to follow orders is basis of success in JROTC, said Kennedy. “If they can’t follow instructions, then there’s not a whole lot I can do for them.”
Academics also fits into the equation. Kennedy said it takes a score of at least 26 on the ACT to get into the Air Force Academy.
Kennedy said the cadets at Westland learn about survival techniques, rank structure, weapons training, marching, and other military requisites.
Kennedy said he has a lot of pride in his cadets. After September 11, notes Kennedy, many of his students have taken on a more focused sense of dedication. He said the event initially stunned his students. Once the event sunk in, said Kennedy, “Their reaction was kind of intense.”
On a wider spectrum in the school setting, Kennedy said, “Everybody feels more intense about their patriotism.”
He noted that despite the surge in patriotism, military recruiters are struggling. At least Westland’s JROTC program is not struggling. Despite the fact that Westland is losing 600 students to the new high school, enrollment in next year’s JROTC course at Westland is the same as usual.
While Kennedy was happy to receive the Outstanding Instructor Award, he said his greatest pleasure is when former students call him up. “The best thing is the kids coming back after graduation—getting to see how they’ve used their training.”
JROTC Cadet staff at Westland. Kenndey in foreground.
Colonel Luther Kennedy