Being in JROTC takes a lot of someone’s time, from the perfection of the uniforms to the work of the Service Learning Projects. 

What takes even more time is the color guard teams inside the JROTC program, especially if you are a captain. 

Sophomore Malea Rierson knows about being a leader, as she is the JROTC female color guard captain. Being in charge of a team is something that takes effort, but there is a way that Rierson has made it work.

“You have to find the right times,” Rierson said. “You just have to manage your time wisely.”

Having a sophomore color guard captain does not happen often in JROTC. The last two sophomore captains were Madayson Atkinson (2022-23) and Grace Estrada (2017-18.)

While also being a sophomore color guard captain, most would think it would be more difficult to earn or be respected by others.

“The respect really depends on the person,” Rierson said. “I feel like I get a decent amount, though.”

The same goes for control. Several believe it is harder to control your team due to being younger.

“I do not try to be overbearing with it,” Rierson said. “I just try to make reasonable requests.”

One should take pride in the title of color guard captain as you travel across Texas and Oklahoma for competitions. However, being a sophomore color guard captain is something to take even more pride in.

“I am proud of the achievements/accomplishments that have come with it,” Rierson said. “If I were just captain, that would not mean anything, but I have turned it into more.”

Rierson is not the only one who is proud and confident in her ability as a sophomore color guard captain. Sergeant First Class Kevin Hodge, who oversees all color guard teams, has complete confidence in Rierson’s ability to lead.

“I am very proud because that carries over to her junior and senior years, so that is two years I do not have to worry about a commander,” Hodge said. “I am locked in with one commander that knows all of the sequences.”

Rierson joined color guard as a fun thing to do, but she has grown to love her team as a second family. She would not have done it in the first place if her best friend had not gotten her to join the team.

When it comes to competitions, Rierson tells her team not to stress too much beforehand, and if something happens, it is OK.

“It is not going to be the last time we can do this,” Rierson said. “It leads to better performances if we mess up.”