After speaking to the San Marcos Academy’s Corps of Cadets at their annual Dining Out, former Marine Captain Adrien Thom of Kyle, now an Academy teacher and coach, is recognized with a plaque of appreciation from Cadet Battalion Commander Daniel Sexton, a junior from Buda. Looking on are cadets Alec Patton and Ruby Yang. (Photo by Don Anders)
STAFF REPORTS
A former U.S. Marine captain and two-tour Iraq War veteran gave cadets at San Marcos Academy some advice on peer leadership during the annual Junior ROTC Dining Out, a formal event held Feb. 11.
Kyle resident Adrien Thom, now a full-time teacher and coach at the Academy as well as swim coach for the Texas State Triathlon Club, shared some of the lessons she learned about leadership while at the U.S. Naval Academy and during her military career. Thom was one of the first female Marines attached to a ground combat unit on the forward edge of a battle area when she led bridge-building missions and reconstruction efforts during Operation Iraqi Freedom I.
“Leadership is about guiding your team,” Thom said during her speech. “It is about setting the expectations and the example and it is about recognizing the strengths of the individuals that can offer their positive attributes to the group.”
Thom said that peer leadership often involves following others in order to learn from them. “Remember to follow with an open mind, willingness, and enthusiasm to get out of your own comfort zone and support those with alternative solutions, even though you might not see it the same way. In supporting one another, all involved will improve their skills.”
Following her speech, Captain Thom was recognized for her support of the JROTC program at the Academy. Cadet Battalion Commander Daniel Sexton of Buda presented her with a plaque that read, “Your professionalism and dedication as the guest speaker at our 2012 Dining Out serves as a shining example for our cadets to emulate. Furthermore, your selfless service and sacrifice to our country brings great pride to the Academy, the JROTC program and the Corps of Cadets.”
The Academy’s Bear Battalion sponsors the JROTC Dining Out each year to allow cadets and their dates to experience a formal dinner and receiving line and to hear an inspirational speaker with a military background. Following the Dining Out, all SMA high school students were treated to the annual Valentine’s Formal.
