Pirates’ Hook (PH): Where are you from?
Msgt Candis McPherson (CM): I am from a place called Cedar Grove, North Carolina, it’s the country.
PH: Can you share a little bit of your background?
CM: I joined the military shortly after I turned 18. In June and July, I was shipped off to San Antonio, Texas.
I spent 23 years in [the] military. A few of those years, in the beginning, [I] was in cybersecurity. That drained my brain, so then I crossed over to logistics. From there, I went [on to become] a tech school instructor, as well as resource advisor. I’ve traveled all over Europe as well as almost all 50 states.
PH: What motivates you?
CM: My son.
He’s my why. I just want to make sure he has as smooth a childhood as possible.
PH: Where did you previously work?
CM: No, I was a superintendent. It was a C-130 weapon system. Some people call it C-130 Hercules.
It drops bombs. I was in charge of more than 400 grown adult babies.
PH: What different ways of teaching will you use for your students?
CM: I like to pull them aside and ask some questions. I found that if you talk to people one on one versus in front of the whole class, they open up more to you. If you notice that they are a little off, or out of the ordinary that day, if you just show that you care, they’ll open up to you more. I’m fairly straightforward.
[I] don’t sugar coat and my students and my troops have always appreciated that.
PH: What brought you to Durham and Riverside?
CM: One, I retired in 2023 and I learned that I was a person that can’t sit at home.
I need something to do. So, I think a lot of the kids will find, when they get older, [that] even though you have the means to retire and just sit at home, you don’t want to. You want somewhere to go every day.
And you can only go to the gym so much. So that’s why I’m here. I like seeing young kids actually flourish and have a goal and know what they want to do after high school, even if it’s not joining the military.
PH: Has it been difficult for you at all to adjust to it?
CM: Oh no. I did teach at another high school prior to this, and Riverside is light years better.
The kids are great. We have our few challenges here and there, because you have some people’s parents that force them to be in JROTC. It’s just getting the kids to understand me and Major are not trying to recruit them. We’re retired.
We just want them to make good decisions for themselves when they get out of high school.
PH: Coming into Riverside, what were some goals and have you accomplished any of them?
CM: I’m into real estate.
I have quite a few properties and [there are] two left for me to pay off. So that’s my goal and I will have one of them paid off within six months. I don’t believe in one string of income.
PH: What’s your favorite thing about Riverside?
CM: I can’t say Riverside as a whole cause I’m still learning the culture here, but as a whole for JROTC, I like that the cadets are actually committed. The majority of them actually want to be in a program and it makes it so much easier.
PH: If you could change something about Riverside, what would it be?
CM: They have something here called the Raiders team.
PH: Can you explain that?
CM: They compete in physical competitions with other cadet units around the country. We’re actually going to a competition in about two weeks on a Saturday in Monroe, North Carolina, but the Raiders team practices five days a week. They’re not getting a break, except for the weekend, so if I could change one thing, it would be the Raiders team, maybe only practicing Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
PH: Major Bailey used to run ROTC. What’s it like to take over a program that’s been run by the same person for so long and what changes did you make personally?
CM: For me, it’s kinda easy because I don’t think people join JROTC to get death by PowerPoint every day. They join because they want to get out in a community. I learned that I see kids actually enjoy volunteering, so I’ve already scheduled them at the end of this month [to go] to UNC Chapel Hill. They’re gonna do fitness challenges. [I want them to see] what ROTC can do for them versus what they can do for ROTC.
Next month, I’m taking them to Fort Liberty. They will be doing more interactive hands-on simulators. They’re going to be immersed in the culture to see what it’s like to be in the army. So, my job is just getting them out and about into the community.
PH: If you’re given one billion dollars, what would you use it on?
CM: I would definitely give more than 10% to this one church in Arkansas, St. Luke. I moved around a lot for the military, and I loved that church, so Saint Luke would definitely get [a] donation. And then, some of my closest friends and family. I would definitely look out for them.
I’m not a big shopper. so I could care less about the name brands.
PH: Do you have any additional information that you’d like to share?
CM: I would just say to anybody, always when you look in the mirror. Know that you are your own competition.
