AUTHORIZATION OF BEDICHEK JUNIOR MARINES

In spring of 2006, the Bedichek Junior Marines Corps was created. As per the direction of the Bedichek Middle School Principal, Gail Belcher, former Marine Staff Sergeant and current Bedichek teacher, Darrick A. Norton was assigned to become the first Bedichek Junior Marine Corps Commander.

September 2006, BJMC’s Color Guard marched in the AISD 125^th anniversary parade

On October 1^st, 2007 BJMC promoted the first Officers. Diamondnique McCullough, Giovanny Tapia, James Hinojosa, and Nikko Howard were among the first to become Commissioned Officers and the first Platoon Commanders.

Alpha Platoon Co- Junior Marines Capt Diamondnique McCullough

Bravo Platoon Co-Junior Marines Capt Giovanny Tapia

Charlie Platoon Co-2lt Nikko Howard

On February 1^st, 2008 Junior Marines LtCol Diamondnique McCullough was appointed Junior Marines Corps Commander and Junior Marines SgtMaj Angel Arana was appointed to Junior Marines Corps Sergeant Major. Junior Marines 1lt Kaitlyn Rencher had been commissioned in only her third six weeks.

May 31^st, 2008 - Junior Marines LtCol Diamondnique McCullough and Junior Marines SgtMaj Angel Arana were awarded the Distinguished Service Achievement Medals.  Junior Marines LtCol McCullough is the most decorated Junior Marine in history with 24 personal awards

June 1^st, 2008 - AISD approves and provides materials for a Confidence Course and paint for the repainting of the Junior Marines Corps Portable.

June 30^th, 2008 – Founding principal Gail Belcher retires after 32 years of service to AISD.

July 10^th- July 24^th – BJMC portable is painted with new “Tiger Stripe” cammie

July 25^th, 2008 – Construction begins on new 10 Element-Confidence Course

July 27^th, 2008 – New Bedichek Junior Marine Textbook is created for use in the 2008-2009 school year

July 30^th, 2008 – New curriculum is adopted for use in the 2008-2009 school year

September 20^th, 2008 – Akins hump (Hike from Akins to Bedichek)

September 25^th, 2008 – First Ever Corps Field Trip to Camp Swift

October 15^th, 2008 – Creation of new Silent Drill Team (Thundering Teufulhundens) and Color Guard

November 1^st, 2008 – First Color Guard performance at Bedichek Middle school Girls Basketball Game

November 10^th, 2008 – Color Guard performs for the Crocket High School Girls Basketball Game

December 18^th, 2008 - Drill team’s first public performance at Bedichek Middle School

January 15^th, 2009 – Corps Mud run

May 8^th, 2009 – Drill Team and Color Guard perform at the Texas State Capital South Steps and is honored by the Texas House of Representatives. H.R. 1147

June 1^st, 2009 – Junior Marines Col’s Nikko Howard, Jose Rueda, Adam Burnett, Juan Carlos Lemus were awarded the Distinguished Service Achievement Medals for three years of outstanding service to the corps and to Bedichek middle school.

August 15^th, 2009 – Fox Platoon was created

January 1^st, 2010 – Junior Marines Col Blaise Corona was promoted to Corps Commander

January 15^th, 2010 – Corps Field Trip to Camp Mabry, Austin Texas

February 26^th, 2010 – Drill Team perform for Black history program and the AISD superintendent in attendance.

May 7^th, 2010 – Drill Team performed 4 shows for Bedichek health fair

May 8^th, 2010 – Drill team performed at burger center for AISD health day fair

May 13^th, 2010 – 2^nd Annual Corps Mud Run

May 22^nd, 2010 – Drill team performed at the Alamo

May 27^th, 2010 – Drill team performs at The Summit of West Lake Hills Retirement community

May 31^st, 2010 – Drill Team performed at the Lockhart Memorial Day Observance

June 2^nd, 2010 – Charlie Platoon is the 2009-2010 Honor Platoon with 26 for the school year and 50 over-all

August 13, 2010 – Corps Platoons are now sectioned by grade level

September 1^st, 2010- Junior Marines received funding from the Career and Technology Education (CATE) and will have a new Professional Relationships with the High School JROTC programs

October 1^st, 2010 – Corp remembers the loss of two Bedichek students James Hinojosa and Kathryn Harris.

November 15^th, 2010 – Corp receives brand new 8½ pound Drill Rifles.

February 6^th, 2011 – Drill Team and Color Guard preformed at the Palmer Events Center for the AISD Black History Month, with the AISD superintendent in attendance.

March 6^th, 2011- The Color Guard preformed at the Bedichek cafeteria for an anti-bullying program

March 22^nd, 2011 – Roberto Hinojosa was appointed the honor of being a Senate page for a day for Senator Watson

April 2^nd, 2011 – Corps attended the National Middle School Drill Competition in Dallas and will be entering into the competition in spring 2012

April 22^nd, 2011 – 3^rd Annual Mud Run – 600ft course is the longest in Corps History

May 11^th, 2011 – Bedichek Junior Marine Corps performed a night show on the south steps of the Capitol of Texas

May 12^th, 2011 – Bedichek Junior Marine Corps performed and received House Concurrent Resolution for the positive role the Corps has in the state. Texas House of Representatives. H.C.R. 109

May 14^th, 2011– Drill Team performed at Burger Center for AISD health day fair for the second straight year

Dec 1, 2011 - Medal of Valor awarded to Cadet Staff Sergeant Julian Jimenez for

Heroic service while assigned to the Bedichek Junior Marine Corps, on August 22, 2011, Cadet Staff Sergeant Jimenez’s devotion to duty and uncanny willingness to protect others had an unequivocal impact on his community.  

Cadet Staff Sergeant Jimenez, was playing in the front of his home, with family members and a physically impaired neighborhood friend Roy Wooten. While skateboarding and playing with his friend, Staff Sergeant Jimenez noticed a large full grown German Shepherd bearing down towards his friend Roy, while he played with his puppies and in his motorized chair. The German Shepherd attacked his friend’s puppies, and tore the boys shirt as he kicked at the dog to protect his puppies. Cadet Staff Sergeant Jimenez took the initiative, without protective equipment and with total disregard for his own safety rushed over to the attacking dog and grabbed him by the spiked choke-collar.  Cadet Staff Sergeant Jimenez pulled on the collar and pulled the dog back away from his friend until the owner had arrived to collect the dog.

Cadet Staff Sergeant Jimenez has set the example for others in the community to follow.  You have made the Corps, Campus, AISD, and your family proud.  Cadet Staff Sergeant Jimenez’s quick actions, devotion to duty, disregard for his own personal safety, and unselfishness, reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Junior Marines.

TEUFELHUNDENS

"DEVIL DOGS"

Term of affection used to donate that filthy, sweaty, dirt-encrusted, foot-sour, camouflage-painted,  ripped- trousered, tired, sleepy, hard-charging, beautiful son of a gun who has kept the wolf away from the door for over two hundred years.

!!SEMPER-FI!!