Having three sisters in the same school is fairly unusual. For all three to be deeply involved in the same program is even more rare.

But that is the case for the Vargas sisters – Minette, Thea, and Geryl – who have made the JROTC program a major part of their lives at Cranston High School East.

Minette, who graduated in 2015, led the way when she joined the JROTC program after a friend suggested she look into it.

“My friend told me her sister was doing it. She said she heard it was a good experience. There were many activities and lots of opportunities for community service,” she said.

Minette ended up being a commander sergeant major and a platoon leader.

“I had no idea what I was getting into. It was lots of fun. It taught me valuable lessons, I learned how to be a team player and a leader,” she said.

Minette had concerns in the beginning about the physical challenges that a cadet goes through.

“I was at the physical team every Friday morning at 6 a.m. in the gym to practice. We had to do rope bridge, push-ups and sit-ups,” she said.

Minette was chosen by Lt. Col. John Murray and the company captains to compete in the prestigious Raider Drill Team/Marching.

“I have wonderful memories of my time in JROTC. I am so proud that so many of my family members are following in my footsteps. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat,” she said.

For Thea, who just graduated from Cranston East on June 11, she always wanted to be in the military.

“When I was little and saw someone in a uniform, I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life,” she said.

Thea will be starting her Air National Guard basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas this summer.

She was a platoon leader in her junior year and a company commander during her senior year.

“I really came out of my shell. I learned to be more confident, and you need to make every effort, in order to get anything out of yourself or the program, you need to be present,” she said.

Thea also joined the drill team, and thinks of its members as family.

“The military is designed with discipline, and not many kids want that kind of structure. I love it. I am glad my sister told me about JROTC, and I am glad I have other family members in the program as well,” she said.

For Geryl, the youngest of the three sisters, all she saw was the uniforms and all she heard was all about drill competitions. Murray calls her “Little Vargas.”

“I wanted to do the drill team. My sisters made it sound so fun. Plus, I thought I was physically and mentally weak compared to them, and wanted to be as good as or even better,” she said.

For the sisters, the collective favorite part of the JROTC program was climbing Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey, N.H., and competing in New York City for drill, where they came in first overall for Southern New England.

One of the proudest moments for Thea and Geryl came when East’s program was given national accreditation.

“We were under a lot of pressure, but when we got it, the colonel was so proud. He knew we were capable. We all learned about true leadership and the balance you need. It brought all of us closer,” Thea said.

The respect and admiration flows back to the girls from the colonel.

“I have a great deal of respect for all the Vargas girls – Minette, Thea, [cousin] Vanessa, and Geryl. They are all extremely hard workers, top-notch students, and each has made Cranston East and Army JROTC very proud,” he said.

All the sisters said the values and skills learned in JROTC carried over into their home lives as well.

“Colonel always told us to eat the elephant one bite at a time, meaning take each problem as it comes. Identify it, then solve it. I know I became more helpful and mature at home because of the JROTC program,” Minette said.

There are some cousins that are also currently in the JROTC program, and there are two younger Vargases yet to come.