Kennewick High School
AFJROTC
Senior Staff
Lt. Col. Curt Wichers
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JROTC Head Instructor
Curt.Wichers@ksd.org or 509-380-1787
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Lt Col Curt Wichers retired from the Air Force in 2014 after a 20-year career. He flew helicopters for his entire career. He flew the UH-1N helicopter at Andrews Air Force Base (AFB), Fairchild AFB and Kirtland AFB and the MH-53 PAVELOW at Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall in the United Kingdom and Kirtland AFB. He also flew the MI-17 Hip in Afghanistan. His served combat deployments to Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan and culminated his career as the Deputy Group Commander with the 58th Operations Group in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
CMSgt.Luke Thompson
CMSgt Thompson enlisted in the active duty Air Force in 1994 as a Combat Control Trainee. After finishing the grueling two-year pipeline, he earned his scarlet beret. He then went on to serve 21 years in the active duty & as an active guardsman for the Oregon Air National Guard. His career includes assignments as a Special Tactics flight NCOIC, operations superintendent, squadron superintendent, Expeditionary Special Tactics squadron superintendent, 270th ATCS squadron superintendent and as an enlisted advisor to the Combat Operations Group commander.
C/Major Harmony Tinsley
Cadet Corp Commander
I am a senior and have been in JROTC since 2020, the middle of the pandemic. Sophomore year I joined the unarmed drill team and became the NCO. Once the commander graduated, in my junior year, I took over the team as well as taking on the position of operations squadron commander. Almost halfway into my junior year, I was moved to support squadron commander. Senior year I was given the privilege of becoming the group commander to help lead and teach the many cadets (students) that fall under me. COVID was hard on our unit but our comeback has been even stronger, and I hope that we continue to grow and thrive even after I graduate.
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C/Captain Melani Olmedo
Corp Deputy
I joined JROTC my sophomore year of high school and although the idea of being around a military environment scared me at first I don't regret joining. Looking back now I wish I would have joined sooner. The class has helped me develop my character, and physical ability and grow in any leadership position I've held. I am ending my senior year(2024) as the Corp Deputy of our unit. I am glad I got to be a part of JROTC and I will carry the friendships and experience everywhere I go.
*Corp Deputy- is in charge of disciplining and advising all C/Officer ranking students and second in command of the unit) of our JROTC unit*
C/ First Lieutenant Jazmine Wooley
Support Squadrorm Commander
I started my 3rd year of JROTC as a Support Commander. I was originally terrified, but now I am starting to learn how it works. My job is to make sure that all of my Squadron is working hard towards a common goal. I ensure that each person in the support positions doing their job to help our Corp. All 3 years I have been a part of the color guard and the drill team. I was once the color guard Commander then gave it to the next outstanding cadet. I'm not one to put myself out there when it comes to big crowds but joining JROTC has changed that for me. I am no confidant in what I do. Being placed as Support Commander has changed my view on a lot of things, I now understand much more.
C/Chief Master Sergeant Amali Olmedo
Command Chief
I am a senior and a third-year cadet. When I first joined I was shy and closed off. Not knowing anyone in the unit scared me along with the idea of having to lead but through the friendships and experiences, I had I was able to grow as a leader. I later gained a couple of leadership positions like PT commander, flight commander, and APT NCO. All of these leadership positions have shaped me into the cadet I am now and prepared me for the position I have now as Command Chief.
In this position, I am in charge of disciplining all enlisted cadets and ensuring that they have the resources to rank up and be successful in this program along with coordinating all ceremonies.
EMAIL THE INSTRUCTOR
Lt. Col. Curt Wichers
CMSgt. Luke Thompson
