Washingtonville JROTC hosts annual Dining In celebration

The spirit of tradition filled the air Wednesday evening as Washingtonville JROTC hosted its annual Dining In at Washingtonville High School. Rooted in centuries-old Viking customs, Dining In brings cadets together to share a meal, mingle and enjoy each other’s company. 

The Washingtonville Army JROTC Dining In started in 1995, the same year the program was established, and has continued every year for the past 31 years. 

Senior cadets greeted members before the Lieutenant Colonel and Washingtonville High School senior Isabella DeFrancesco kicked off the grog ceremony. A grog ceremony is a time-honored military tradition, where a communal, often foul-tasting, mixture called "grog" is prepared, with each ingredient symbolizing a piece of their unit's history. 

“This punch contains a little bit of every magical moment that this team has experienced, transforming it from its beginnings to its current status,” Isabella explained. “The Magic Battalion punch is not only a delicious thirst-quencher and a tradition, but it’s also a representation of the courage our cadets show at various events.”

This year’s grog included: water from the Hudson River as a base, tracing back to their Revolutionary War roots; fruit punch to represent their annual blood drive and community connection; a “glass of nothing” to symbolize their humble beginnings; Nerds Rope for rappelling and supporting fellow cadets; “Tears of other drill teams” (also known as Snapple) to represent their recent and historic success at Nationals; Laffy Taffy for the laughter and good times shared; And a single Twix, Sergeant First Class Joshua Kawski’s favorite candy, to mark his first year as the program’s sole instructor.

Dining In is a formal event that emphasizes etiquette and tradition. Cadets participate in a receiving line, during which the top three battalion leaders greet every cadet with a handshake. The event is designed to bring together members of the unit who may not interact regularly, giving them an opportunity to connect in a meaningful way. 

"This is an amazing opportunity for every cadet to feel welcome in JROTC, feel inspired and feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves,” Sergeant Kawski said. “The Dining In strengthens leadership, teamwork and camaraderie."