Cadet Corps Provides Purpose, Pathways for Students Across Kern County

The California Cadet Corps (CACC) is experiencing remarkable growth and impact across Kern County, where nearly 300 students at Rosamond High School and Tropico Middle School (Southern Kern Unified School District) alone are finding connection, confidence, and purpose through the century-old leadership program.

Founded in 1911 as a California National Guard youth initiative, the Cadet Corps has guided generations of young people with the mission of building strong leaders through discipline and service. Today, it operates in more than 100 schools across the state and serves over 7,000 students from fourth grade through high school. In Kern County, the program stretches from McFarland through Bakersfield to California City and Southern Kern. 

Rosamond’s Cadet Corps journey began in 2019, following the closure of its Air Force JROTC program due to staffing and budget constraints. What could have been a loss became an opportunity for the Cadet Corps to take root. Since then, Cadet Corps has not only filled that space but also excelled beyond the school’s expectations, according to Charles Wallis, Commandant and Cadet Corps instructor at Rosamond High School.

“We’re teaching leadership, service to the community, service to our schools,” Wallis said. “The cadets learn military discipline and principles of leadership that can apply to anything.” 

Kern County Cadets from McFarland Middle School, Curran Middle School, Tropico Middle School, and Rosamond High School participate in bivouac training.

Kern County Cadets from South High, Bakersfield High, Centennial High, Rosamond High, Tropico Middle, Curran Middle, and Greenfield Middle schools participate with more than 650 total cadets in the 2025 Cadet Corps Summer Camp.

Cadet Corps partners with several institutions across the state to give students access to more than 20 specialized training pathways, including Emergency Medical Response (EMR) certification, law enforcement and public safety, cybersecurity, wildland firefighting, marksmanship, mountaineering, drill instruction, survival training, and more. 

“We have a lot of opportunities that I don’t think we would have if we didn’t have this program, Wallis said. “Things like scuba diving, firefighting, glider flights with the (Edwards) Air Force Base; things that I would have never dreamed of doing in high school when I was a student.” 

According to Wallis, only about five percent of cadets eventually choose military service. The rest go on to college, public service careers, or the workforce — bringing with them the discipline, teamwork, and leadership skills learned in Cadet Corps.

“We’re not here to give students a uniform and march,” Wallis said. “We are here to give them a pathway in life.”

For many, the program becomes a second home. Major Lani Cahill is the advisor for the 15th Brigade, which includes Kern County and Northern Los Angeles County. A veteran of the Civil Air Patrol, Major Cahill is no stranger to military and public services. She says Cadet Corps uniquely supports students who need community the most.

“It equalizes everybody,” she said. “You don’t know who’s rich or poor. Everyone wears the same uniform. The ones who are successful are the ones who try harder.”

She also notes that the program is highly accessible. Uniforms, curriculum, training equipment, lodging, and food are fully funded through the state’s $8 million annual Cadet Corps budget. Even summer camps are low-cost, and scholarships are readily available through schools or through the corps.

“There’s no reason finances should ever stop a student from participating,” Cahill said.

Wallis says one of Cadet Corps’ greatest strengths is giving young people the room to try, struggle, fail, and grow.

“We encourage failure,” he said. “Try it, fail, and then learn, and do it again. Do it better.”

Tropico Middle School’s model has become a standout success, offering Cadet Corps as an elective and a physical education course. This structure allows special education students, who often have limited elective options, to participate fully.

“A lot of special needs kids thrive here,” Cahill said. “It’s tactile, engaging, hands-on learning. They get to build shelters, do land navigation, run obstacle courses — and they love it.”

Newly promoted Captain Aaron Burton lays a wreath on the grave of a servicemember for Wreaths Across America.

Cadets are active across Kern County, participating in several community activities, including Veterans’ Day ceremonies, holiday parades, Honor Flight, and community service events. A special annual tradition is Wreaths Across America, held this year on December 13, where cadets volunteered to go to the Bakersfield National Cemetery in Arvin and help place wreaths on every service member’s grave and conduct memorial ceremonies on behalf of families unable to attend.

“They read the script, they salute the grave, and they finish off the whole cemetery, giving every soldier a wreath,” Cahill explained.

During the 2025 Wreaths Across America memorial ceremony, the cadets took a moment to honor Lance Corporal Omar Salazar, a soldier out of Rosamond, where many of the cadets are from. A cadet placed a wreath on his grave and the color guard led the cadets in a salute.

Cadets also participated in a promotion ceremony, where students moved up the ranks depending on experience and acts of service.

Wallis says these experiences deepen students’ connection to their community and history.

“One of our missions is to build community, honoring veterans, honoring our history,” he said. “Cadets are already leading in school, in the community, by serving in many capacities.”

As the 15th Brigade surpasses 850 cadets and is on track to top 1,000 next year, Cadet Corps leaders are eager to expand further into Kern County.

“I think it would be an incredible opportunity for those students who are in the probation system, foster care system, and alternative education programs to participate. I would love to see it offered to those students who don’t have that opportunity,” Wallis said. 

Cahill says Cadet Corps’ mission is clear: to grow confident, capable leaders who will build and strengthen their communities, no matter what path they choose to take.

“It will change their lives. If you talk to any kid who has been in Cadet Corps, they will say, ‘It gave me a family and it taught me leadership,'” Cahill said. “I do really believe in this organization, and it’s so wonderful for kids.”

Cadets at the Los Alamitos State Drill Competition (Left) and 9/11 Harley ride ceremony (Right).