Lt. Col. John Block
New Arlington High School Junior ROTC Instructor Colonel John Block recounts one of his craziest stories from his military career. “I was stationed in Puerto Rico for assignment, and was introduced to singer Jennifer Lopez. She was so nice, and when she thanked me for my service, she kissed me on the cheek.” Laughing, Colonel Block recalls, “I remember saying, I’m never washing that cheek again.”
If a kiss on the cheek from J-Lo does not impress you, then surely Colonel John Block’s 30 years of military experience will. From Puerto Rico to Korea and California to Virginia, Colonel Block has served, protected, and gained experience and wisdom from all over the globe. He is able to incorporate his experience into his classroom by sharing his stories with his students that, according to Block, “Teach them about continuous improvement and leadership.”
Colonel Block is admirable in and out of the classroom. He fell in love with his college sweetheart. They have been married for 33 years and have one son. In his free time, Block enjoys staying in shape and is a certified Black Belt instructor in Kickboxing and Brazilian jujitsu. He is also passionate about reading and continuing to grow his faith.
While Block could consider his classroom full of students, he views them as his team instead. One unique aspect of his “team” is that they get to wear their uniforms into class with the added bonus of throwing their rifles, marching, and, most importantly, having fun. Block views everyone on his team as a leader. “Whether they realize it or not, if they come into the class, I’m going to give them the experience of being able to use their skills with other students, so they can collaborate together.” It was evident to me that Block truly cares for all of his students and is preparing them excellently for their next stage of life. When Block told me what he was most looking forward to, he explained, “I come in here every day to try to make a difference, to try to make my students succeed, to teach them how to be successful, and define what success is to them.”
