GUYTON — South Effingham High School's NJROTC company let an audience peek into its world of hard work and dedication during its annual Pass In Review on Dec. 5.

In front of family members and interested eighth graders from South Effingham Middle School, the cadets showcased their attention to detail and precision in a variety of drills.

"This isn't something you don't get to see everyday, but this is why we do our job," said Lt Col. Terry Stautberg (USMC, Ret.), South Effingham's NJROTC instructor. "These are great young men and women and today they get to display the types of things that they've learned."

With Capt. Chad Falgout, Naval Science professor at Savannah State University watching intently, five platoons kicked off the event by marching around the gym floor during the Parade the Colors. 

Then, after the playing of the national anthem, Cadets Evans Fuchs, Tyler Fortner, Kyle Velazco and William Garrant performed the posting of the National Colors.

Before the drills started, Stautberg asked for a moment of silence in honor of President George H.W. Bush, who died Nov. 30 at the age of 94.

"The man had service all over him," Stautberg said after reciting some of Bush's military and political achievements.

Bush's life jibed perfectly with NJROTC's mission: "To instill in students the value of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment."

"People often ask me what I teach. My answer is — leadership," Stautberg said. "I had to laugh just recently because someone said, 'Well, you teach the soft skills.' Nobody had ever told me I was soft in anything but there you go. If that's what you want to call it, have at it.

"That's being prompt, that's being responsible, that's your appearance and how you carry yourself — all those things that are extremely important in the workplace."

A group of female cadets kicked off the presentation of drills with a routine that featured fancy stepping and clapping. It was followed by an armed exhibition that featured twirling weapons.

After the drills, Madison Abernathy, Kabrea Grimes, Isabelle Lugo, Halie Winters, Shelby Barnes, Joyanna Sanders, Mitchell Harris, Konner Durrance, Alyssa Mullenix, Jacob Belcourt, Kayla Mills and Max Cabrera were awarded Bravo Zulu for their outstanding uniform appearance. 

The event ended with the Pass In Review in front of Falgout.