'Sky is not even the limit': NASA astronaut visits ROTC students at Clarke Central

The Clarke Central High School Junior ROTC recently played host to an astronaut who shared how the military not only gave him an opportunity to serve his country but also to serve humanity.

NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, who is also a retired U.S. Army colonel, spoke on Friday to the Clarke Central cadets and visiting students from JROTC units from other area high schools.

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Kimbrough said he wanted to tell the cadets about the “incredible opportunities the Army provided me” and his space flight experiences that includes missions on the International Space Station, where he served with Russian counterparts.

“I hope they can see that the sky is not even the limit anymore,” Kimbrough said about opportunities in the military.

Being in space gives one insight on the “beauty and fragility” of earth, according to Kimbrough, who has conducted multiple space walks during his missions.

“It never gets old,” he said about being in space. “I’ve been up there a year now in total and every time I am in absolute awe of our planet.”

President Ronald Reagan gave Shane Kimbrough a presidential appointment to West Point

Kimbrough graduated high school at The Lovett School in Atlanta and had his eye on possibly playing baseball for Georgia Tech, before President Ronald Reagan gave him a presidential appointment to West Point.

Prior to his address to the cadets, the astronaut was given a tour of the Clarke Central JROTC facility, where he was taken to the various offices and spaces by Central’s JROTC instructor First Sgt. Antione Clark.

Kimbrough was in Athens where he was scheduled to give the keynote speech at the Georgia Military Officers Association of America’s annual conference held Saturday night at the Georgia Center on the University of Georgia campus.

Joining Kimbrough on the visit to Clarke Central were members of the Military Officers Association, including retired combat veteran Col. Paul Longgrear. Also attending were retired officers Andrew Neighbors, Hugh Barclay and David Dupree.

Kimbrough asked Clark how many ROTC cadets were student-athletes. Clark estimated about 10%.

“Some students are unaware they can do ROTC and be involved in sports. We’re an elective class like PE or art,” Clark said. “Don’t think that just because you’re in band, you can’t take ROTC.”

Two former JROTC cadets, Caleb Miller and Karamyah Harris, stopped by the facility not knowing that Kimbrough was making a visit.

The officers asked them about their experience in the unit.

“It helped me get out of my shell,” said Miller, who is attending Georgia Southern University.

Current cadet Karla Pastor told of her experience.

“It taught me to speak out more because I’m naturally shy and it gave me the opportunity to be more confident,” said Pastor, who plans to attend North Georgia University in Dahlonega upon graduation.

Some of the retired officers shared stories about joining the Army.

“I remember well my first day of basic training when I went into the Army. I thought I was a bad dude, but I called my mom and said, ‘I want to come home,’” Longgrear said as the others laughed. “She said, ‘You’re not coming home boy.’”

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: NASA astronaut visits Junior ROTC students at Clarke Central High School