JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) helps students develop important skills like leadership, discipline, and citizenship.
This program promotes responsibility and and encourages participation in community service.
“I joined JROTC to be an officer and to become the top dog,” said Matthew Marlowe, senior.
“JROTC is something I’m glad I joined because I’ve always wanted to join the military, and this is close to it for the time being,” said Jaime Simental, senior.
Both students say JROTC has helped them become better people in and out of the program. Matthew enjoys the privileges that come with being in the program while Jaime likes getting to know his peers and instructors as well as their qualities.
First Sergeant Jaime Kurtz, a retired army veteran, teaches JROTC. He wants students to be proud of themselves and their accomplishments.
“A teacher should instill self-pride in the students while also building a sense of pride in their mission and what they have accomplished. While doing so, they should set a good example on how to achieve their goals,” said First Sergeant Kurtz.
First Sergeant Kurtz has seen achievements made by the students of the program.
“As a program, we have improved our overall fitness by 15%. Riley Melancon, freshman, has improved his mile run by being two minutes faster and Aja Adkins, senior, has improved by 26% on her cadet challenge.” said First Sergeant Kurtz.
The program challenges students by making them uncomfortable in their leadership opportunities during class as well as during physical readiness training by them being out in front of their peers.
They support the local community with volunteer activities, rendering honor to the flag each morning/evening by raising and lowering it, conduct color guard and support the local veterans through numerous volunteer opportunities.
