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Robert Lord and Chloe Masey enlisted in the U.S. Air Force; Emma Masey, Zayne Roberts and Solomon Stoll enlisted in the West Virginia Air National Guard; Christien Saunders enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Academy; Mac Markun, Deacon Palmer and Nathan Kozar enlisted in the U.S. Army; Specialist Arianna Carroll, Marion Davis III, Chase Day, Specialist Matthew Can Jr., Isaiah Pleasant and Paxton Ward enlisted in the W.Va. Army National Guard; Jacob Elwood enlisted in the U.S. Navy; and Owen Turner and Mark Workman-Powell enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œChoosing to serve in the military is a noble task. One that takes courage, resilience and self-desire to contribute to a greater cause,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Superintendent Ryan Saxe told the students in a speech he gave during the ceremony. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œA great friend and American hero, Woody Williams often spoke about his service and was always sure to assert that, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥˜For the cause was greater than I.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Brandy Johnson has tried to convince her son, JROTC C-Cpl. Marion Davis III, to join the military for years because she knew he would be able to have a sense of direction once he graduated. Johnson said, because the W.Va. Army National Guard will be a part-time experience for Davis, it will give him financial stability while also giving him the chance to try new things.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve been planting this in his head since he was little. I know heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s going to get a career from this and independence and camaraderie and build a trade, so itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s just positive for him all around to go do this,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Johnson said.

Davis said he chose the W.Va. Army National Guard as a starting job, and after basic training, heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll decide on his next move. For now, heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s excited to join and proud of his friends whom he was able to watch enlist alongside him.

C-Maj. Mac Markun said he felt like joining JROTC pushed him towards his future in the Army, but he ultimately chose to enlist for the opportunities he hopes it will bring.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAfter JROTC, I learned the structure of the military, and it really inspired me to look towards it,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Markun said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI specifically chose the Army because of all that it offers. It has the job that I want, the ability to send me places I want to go and itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s really just a great opportunity for anyone.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Markun plans to stay in the military for a full 20-year career to earn retirement. Wherever it takes him, whatever training is available, he said heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll take every chance he can get.

Markun said his family, like many others who showed up to ThursdayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s ceremony to cheer on the enlistees, has been supportive of his decision, and heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s happy he and his friends could make the choice together.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThere are a lot of positive things that come out of the military, and he is a person that wants to do so many things,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Paige Markun said of her son.

Msg. (Retired) Mike Masey, co-instructor for the JROTC program at Huntington High School alongside his wife, Maj. Nicole Masey, has two twin daughters, Emma and Chloe Masey. While both girls chose to enlist on Thursday, he said, like many other students in his program, they made the decision all on their own.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t push (students) to go into the military at all. We introduce them to all the branches,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Mike Masey said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re just here to try to get a value system instilled into them, that happens to be the military value system, so that they can be better citizens and enter in our cities. Our goal is to get them graduated from high school, and then what they decide to do from there is on them.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

While Emma and Chloe Masey have different plans for their futures, Mike Masey said he and his wife are proud of them, and he knows, even if they choose to leave the military, theyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll have real-world skills and an easier time getting a job in the future.

As for the rest of the enlistees in the JROTC program, he just hopes he and his wife were able to make a positive impact on their lives.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œUs being married and working closely together, weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re mom and dad to some of them. And weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re happy to step into that role. We just love the kids, so thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s what weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re here for. ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the reason why weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll be here,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� he said.