6th AJROTC Battalion History
In the year1937, ROTC along with the Rifle Team started at Austin High School, when the new school doors opened with 100 cadets enrolled in the program. By the end of the school year, the enrollment had reached 150. The AJROTC program has been around Austin High School for 67 years. As the school established, the ROTC organization was known as the NDCC unit. In the year 1966-67, the school was part of the 4th region.
The Male Drill Team started in 1951 with 14 members in total, under the command of Cadet CPT/ Howard Whidden. They were known as the Crack Drill Squad. As the years went by, in the year 1952, they were known as the Drill Platoon. Two years later the Austin High School Drill Platoon was known as the Austin Legionnaires. They followed a book, supplied by COL Gemini, commander of the Volunteer French Battalion in Korea and Indo-China. "The Blue Berated" Legionnaires specialized with the Silent Drills. In May 1957, they won First Place Champions in the Final Review competition against other states. As a reward, the Marines Corps league financed a tour of the United States for the Drill team. When females were allowed in ROTC organization in the year 1972, the Austin High School formed its first ever Female Drill Platoon. They started with 22 members in total, and were under the command on Cadet CPT/ Linda Harkless.
In the year 1979, Austin High School had their first Female Battalion Commander Cadet COL/ Sandra Noriega. She became Houston's first Corps Commander of the Troops in the year 1982. In the ROTC Organization, a cadet is awarded a medal for their high leadership and academics, also for being the most outstanding cadet. In 1971, the Legion of Valor was awarded to cadet CSM/ James Lesiker. In 1985, it was awarded again to cadet LTC/ Librada Alaniz. The Legion of Valor was once more awarded in the year 1989 to cadet 2Lt/ Jaime Gomez. This organization has also received the Honor Unit in the years 1965-66, 1966-67, 1968-69, 1969-70, and 1976-77. And the Honor Unit with place overall in all three competitions and was under the command of Heriberto Garcia. They were awarded The Corps Color Guard, city champion's title.
Distinction for school years 1970-1971, 1972-73, 1975-76, 1990-91, 1992-93, 1995-96, 2000-01, The Stephen F. Austin makes history in the year 2000-01 once again. The Organization Color Guard wins first place overall in all three competitions and was under the command of cadet CSM/ Heriberto Garcia. They were awarded The Corps Color Guard, city champion's title.
