(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – Feb. 20, 2026) — “Remove everything from your pockets. Tie your hair back. Phones away.”
The instructions are written clearly on the board inside Austin High School’s JROTC classroom. Cadets follow them without hesitation. Moments later, they stand tall and recite the creed in unison.
Structure comes first.
But just down the hall, something unexpected is taking flight — literally.
On Wednesdays, the same cadets who begin their mornings at attention are programming robots and guiding drones through indoor obstacle courses.
The evolution of Austin High’s JROTC program mirrors the journey of the man helping to lead it.
Ret. Lt. Col. David Cruz, Senior Army Instructor, who has spent more than 20 years in the U.S. Army. He joined in 2000 with plans of becoming a pilot.
After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the Army shifted its needs. Cruz was reassigned to artillery, a combat-focused role that placed him on a different trajectory than he had envisioned.
At the time, he was rising through the ranks. He would eventually become a lieutenant colonel. But internally, he began questioning whether that path aligned with his values.
“There came a moment where I had to decide what kind of impact I wanted to have,” Cruz said.
Teaching, he said, had always been his dream.
“I’ve been in positions where you’re trained to destroy,” he reflected. “Now, I get to build. I get to build young people into better leaders, better citizens. That’s a mission I believe in.”
His early life also shaped that perspective. Growing up without a strong family foundation, he said he could have taken a different path.
“I didn’t always have the structure I needed,” he said. “So now, I want to be part of creating that structure for someone else.”
When Cruz arrived at Austin High, the JROTC program had 62 cadets. For a campus its size, a thriving battalion would typically have closer to 100.
Instead of lowering standards to attract more students, he and fellow instructors expanded the program’s reach. Cruz works alongside fellow instructor Alfredo Cardenas, whose dedication and expertise help ensure that every cadet receives guidance and support.
Mondays and Tuesdays remain dedicated to physical training. Discipline is non-negotiable.
Wednesdays, however, look different.
Cadets design and program robots. They navigate indoor drones through courses that require two-person teams — a pilot and a guide.
“There are blind spots throughout this drone course,” Cruz explained. “If the students don’t communicate clearly, the drone crashes. That lesson translates far beyond this room. Communication is always important.”
Cruz also explained that working on robotics does more for the students. He said it helps build math skills and shows the teens why math is still important.
“The new activities have helped me develop an understanding of technologies like coding and commands for drones and robotics,” said Cadet Esteban Mireles, a Junior at Austin High School. “This class has also helped me develop leadership skills, teamwork, and self-discipline which I am going to carry with me.”
Thursday’s class brings marksmanship and archery. The new additions have sparked excitement among students.
“Archery has taught me that there are other ways to communicate with each other,” said Cadet Aaron Sigales, a Sophomore at Austin High School. “My instructors think outside the box a lot of times, they’re really smart in how they plan this course.”
Fridays are reserved for uniform inspections, promotions and recognition.
The consistency matters.
“The goal is accountability, discipline and time management,” Cruz said. “Those habits will serve them wherever they go.”
In a move that reflects the broader vision of the class, the instructors have opened the robotics program to the entire Austin High student body as an after-school opportunity. Students do not have to be in JROTC to participate.
It’s about building momentum and belonging.
“Throughout my four years here, my instructors have been nothing, but supportive of myself and goals,” said Cadet Anabelle Garcia, a Senior at Austin High School. “My instructors have supported me when my mental health wasn’t great. They created a second home for me, and I have a lot of gratitude towards them.”
For Cruz, this chapter feels deeply personal.
“This is my second mission,” he said. “Before, I was trained to win battles. Now, I’m helping students win at life.”
Inside the JROTC wing, the creed still echoes each morning.
Only now, it’s followed by the hum of drones and the quiet focus of students building a better future.