SCARBOROUGH – During marching practice Monday for the Scarborough High School class of 2012, once everyone had found their assigned seat, Principal Dean Auriemma asked 15 of the seniors to stand back up.

“I asked the rest of the kids why they thought I had those students stand up and somebody said, ‘Because they’re going to serve their country,’” recalled Auriemma.

“Instantly, all of the other kids started clapping, just spontaneously,” he said. “That right there tells you, they really do get it. They do care.”

The number of graduates joining the military from Scarborough is sizable, compared to neighboring communities. A couple of students are off to boot camp from Cape Elizabeth, from South Portland, just one. But in Scarborough, nearly 5 percent of the graduating class has volunteered to serve.

“To me, that’s extraordinary,” said Auriemma. “I mean, think about it, these kids had just entered first grade when 9/11 happened – war is all they’ve ever known. Twelve years is an awfully long span of war.

“Sure, we’ve been desensitized to it,” said Auriemma, “It’s got so it’s not front page news every day, but every one of these students knows someone who served. They all know somebody who knows somebody who was either injured or killed.

“So, to them, joining the military isn’t just a job,” said Auriemma. “They know they could very well be sent into harm’s way. We have students who are going to do great things in school, or work, but when you enter today’s service at 18 years old, that’s a pretty big step out into the world. It’s not going to be easy for these kids.”

But the graduates agree the dangers are secondary to a desire to serve.

“To me, it’s just the honorable thing to do,” said Jared Gilbert, who comes from a line of military veterans. “The fact that I can give back a part of my life to a country that’s given me every opportunity in the world, it’s just the right thing to do.”

“We’re pretty privileged to be living in Scarborough,” said Logan Mars. “For me, because I’m going in the Coast Guard, I’m not going to really see a battle or anything, but the reason I want to go in is I want to give back to a country that’s given so much to us. I think as citizens it’s our duty to do that.”

For some, the military also is a pathway to an education, or a post-service career as a police officer or, for those joining the Maritime Academy, Maine’s coastal industries. But the stark reality of war is never far from their minds, or their decision to join, especially for future Marine Michael DiClemente.

“A big thing for me is that, I do it so that my bothers and sisters, or my friends who are going off to college, don’t have to,” he said.

Among the graduates, only Carl Ahlquist has already answered to a drill sergeant, having joined the Army National Guard two years ago. His advice: “Don’t forget to pay attention to detail and don’t talk back, and you’ll be fine,” he said.

And how did Ahlquist come by this knowledge? “I did both,” he said, with a laugh.

Members of the Scarborough High School class of 2012 headed to military service include, front row, from left: Michael DiClemente (U.S. Marines) and Zachary Beaudoin (U.S. Marines); middle row, Jared Gilbert (U.S. Army), Mariah Randall (U.S. Coast Guard), Catherine Bailey (Maine Maritime Academy), Harry Motter (Maine Maritime Academy) and Nicholas Morris (U.S. Naval Academy); and back row, Joseph Corbeau (Maine Maritime Academy), Anthony Fosler (Maine Maritime Academy) and Logan Mars (U.S. Coast Guard). (Staff photo by Duke Harrington)