On May 27, 2026, FVHS and Willow Springs High School’s senior graduates who plan to enlist in a military branch or area of public service were celebrated in a public ceremony.
For the ceremony, veterans were called to bear flags and march in honor of these students who will bravely enlist and help our country in each of their respective ways.
Senior Joshua Guillen, who is enlisting into the Air Force, said, “The ceremony is a bit uplifting, but I think I’m still a little bit nervous. I feel like this gives me even more career paths because I plan on taking the job I had in the Air Force and transferring it into civilian life.”
Others had similarly positive feelings about the ceremony, Senior Steven Meyer is planning to join the Air Force and attended the ceremony.
“It makes me feel more prepared, like everything is finally tying together and more finalized,” said Meyer.
The ceremony helped get our students comfortable for their future. Meyer’s sentiment is shared by another FVHS senior and enlisting Air Force member Jayden Manchego.
“I feel good because it shows that other people are also going in, and it’s not just me,” said Manchego.
The event was generally uplifting for the enlisting students, and gave them reflection on how they plan to navigate their military journey going forward.
“I would like to do college while in the military, so when my tour is up, either I reenlist or I’m fully ready to go straight into the workforce. The Air Force will allow me to pay for college and let me skip the internship phase, instead going straight into knowing how to do the job. I would say the military prepares me for the career I’m going into while a traditional internship may not,” Meyer said.
The stress of bootcamp and the military’s process is different for everyone.
Manchego said, “Right now I plan to go through for combat control, which is special warfare and full training. Boot camp doesn’t seem too hard. It will definitely be tough, but I have 18 months to train for the career that I’m going for and that will definitely be the toughest part.”
Although nervous, the spirits of our FVHS enlisting students have been raised by this ceremony and provided a warm send-off while welcoming them into their military path of choice.
