MISSISSIPPI JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS …



MISSISSIPPI JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (JROTC) STATEWIDE COORDINATOR

ANNUAL REPORT TO THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

IMPLEMENTATION OF MISSISSIPPI CODE § 37-3-95

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Mississippi Department of Education

P.O. Box 771

359 North West Street

Jackson, MS 39205-0771

MISSISSIPPI JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (JROTC)

BUREAU DIRECTOR

Annual Report to the Mississippi Legislature

Implementation of Mississippi Code § 37-3-95

Mississippi Department of Education

Office of Healthy Schools

JROTC Bureau Director

P.O. Box 771

Jackson, MS 39205-0771

601-359-1816

mcurry@mde.k12.ms.us

jrotc

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview………………………………………………………………………1

Program Background…………………………………………………………...2

Program Goals and Outcomes………………………………………………….3

2009 Accomplishments………………………………..………………………..4

Initiatives in Progress……………………………………………………………6

Goals……………………………………………………………………………..7

Appendices……………………….……………………………………………...8

Appendix A: List of Mississippi JROTC Units

Appendix B: “Inspiring Citizenship” JROTC Flyer

OVERVIEW

Per Mississippi code § 37-3-95, the position of Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) statewide coordinator was filled beginning in January 2009. This position has the following powers and duties, per Mississippi statute:

1. To coordinate training of new JROTC instructors and continuing education programs for certified instructors;

2. To facilitate communication between JROTC programs in the various public schools;

3. To assist in organizing competitions among JROTC units from different high schools;

4. To assist in the development of the JROTC curriculum;

5. To compile information on scholarships available to JROTC participants and to solicit support for such scholarships;

6. To assist in establishing support groups for parents of students participating in a JROTC program;

7. To solicit and accept financial support for JROTC programs from private sector donors;

8. To promote the involvement of JROTC units within their local communities;

9. To facilitate interaction between JROTC units and the Mississippi National Guard and Mississippi Air National Guard;

10. To promote, in general, the JROTC program in high schools throughout the state;

11. To assist local schools with the application process for establishing new JROTC programs in high schools; and

12. To perform such other duties relating to the JROTC program established by the State Superintendent of Public Education or State

Board of Education.

The JROTC Statewide Coordinator position is classified as an Education Bureau Director II position. It is located within the Office of Healthy Schools on the Mississippi Department of Education staff. This position is the single representative for JROTC programs on the Mississippi Department of Education staff. The scope of contacts for this position include the national program manager for JROTC on the Secretary of Defense staff, JROTC program managers for each of the military services, JROTC directors in other states, the Adjutant General for the Mississippi National Guard, Commanding Officers of military units in Mississippi, school district superintendents, school principals, JROTC instructors, civic groups, and parents.

Commander Michael S. Curry, U.S. Navy (Retired) has been hired as the Mississippi JROTC Statewide Coordinator. He has 20 years of military experience, and over 10 years of experience as a JROTC instructor at Pearl High School in Pearl, Mississippi.

1

JROTC PROGRAM BACKGROUND

Per Title 10 United States Code, Section 2031(a)(2), it is a purpose of the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps to instill in students in United States secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment. JROTC is a citizenship program devoted to the moral, physical, and educational uplift of American youth. The study of ethics, citizenship, communications, leadership, life skills and other subjects designed to prepare young men and woman to take their place in society, are the core of the program. A student centered curriculum focusing on character building and civic responsibility is presented in every JROTC classroom. Additionally, JROTC includes extracurricular activities, such as:

• Community service projects

• Parades

• Color Guard, or military honors, at community and school events

• Competitions (including military drill, athletic, orienteering, academic, and marksmanship)

• Summer leadership camps

JROTC instructors are retired active duty, or reserve, military personnel. Each of the military services has a JROTC program. The following is a break down by military service for the 84 public Mississippi High Schools with JROTC units (data as of 10/26/09):

|Military Service |Units |Students |Notes |

|Army |51 |7,586 | In addition, Piney Woods School also has an Army JROTC unit. |

|Air Force |18 |2,277 | |

|Navy |12 |1,557 | |

|Marine Corps |3 |649 | |

| Total |84 |12,069 | |

JROTC is not a military recruiting program, and JROTC students have no military obligation. JROTC cadets can receive special consideration when applying for military service academies, and college ROTC scholarships. And, JROTC cadets can qualify for enlistment in the military at an advanced pay grade.

JROTC is approved by the Mississippi State Board of Education to meet the graduation requirement for a half credit in Physical Education.

2

JROTC PROGRAM GOALS

• Promote citizenship

• Develop leadership and critical/creative thinking

• Teach to communicate effectively

• Improve physical fitness

• Provide incentive to live drug-free

• Strengthen positive self-motivation

• Provide global awareness to include a historical perspective on military service

• Train to work as a team member

• Inspire to graduate from High School, attend institutions of higher learning, and pursue meaningful careers particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

JROTC PROGRAM OUTCOMES

• Better attendance rate

• Higher graduation rate

• Less discipline infractions

• Lower drop out rate

• Higher grade point average

3

MISSISSIPPI JROTC STATEWIDE COORDINATOR

2009 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Developed the Mississippi JROTC web site ( jrotc )

• Compiled a list of contact information for Mississippi JROTC units and national JROTC managers

• Interfaced with staff personnel for the United States Senators and Congressmen representing the state of Mississippi, regarding military academy nomination programs and JROTC unit establishment issues.

• Established a JROTC Advisory Committee comprised of nine instructors to meet twice per year.

• Worked with Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) to investigate the desirability of bringing JROTC competitions under the MHSAA umbrella

• Met with Major General Freeman regarding National Guard support of JROTC programs in Mississippi

• Served as a key member of the Mississippi Department of Education Emergency Operations Team, involved in planning and preparing for disaster response

• Developed informational flyer on the Mississippi JROTC program

• Made presentations regarding Mississippi JROTC programs to:

o Mississippi Association of School Superintendents (MASS)

o National JROTC leadership personnel, at annual meeting

o Mississippi Alliance for School Health (MASH)

o Jackson Public Schools JROTC Instructors

o Delta School Health Leadership Institute at Delta State University

o Physical Education Assessment Seminar, Delta State University

o Mississippi and Louisiana Army JROTC Instructors, at summer training conference

o School Administrators Course, Mississippi College

o Mississippi Health Institute

o Military Academy Day event, hosted by U.S. Congressman Gene Taylor

o Transition Assistance Program seminar, Gulfport Navy Base (2 times)

o Transition Assistance Program seminar, Keesler Air Force Base

4

MISSISSIPPI JROTC STATEWIDE COORDINATOR

2009 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Represented Mississippi Department of Education at:

o Regional Navy JROTC Drill competition at Ole Miss

o Rankin County JROTC Athletic Competition

o Jackson Public School Spring JROTC Review 2009

o Army Corps of Engineers boat trip for JROTC cadets

o Mississippi Air National Guard KC135 flight for JROTC cadets

o Army JROTC Cadet Leadership Camp at Camp Shelby, summer 2009

o Navy JROTC Basic Leadership Training Camp at NAS Meridian, summer 2009

o All Hazards and Hurricane Preparedness conference conducted by MEMA

o National After School Association Conference

o MEMA Hurricane exercise

o MEMA Radiological exercise

o Pandemic Flu planning workgroups for statewide plan

o National JROTC Leadership meeting

o Project Fit America Kick-off Celebration at Luther Branson Elementary School

o Excellence in physical education awards ceremony hosted by Governor Barbour

5

MISSISSIPPI JROTC STATEWIDE COORDINATOR

INITIATIVES IN PROGRESS

• Work with national JROTC leadership to develop an annual report on JROTC program accomplishments/effectiveness on the national and state level.

• Complete coordination efforts and bring JROTC competition events under the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA).

• Increase the interaction between ROTC programs at colleges in Mississippi with JROTC units by working to facilitate JROTC competition events hosted by college ROTC units.

• Work with interested schools to apply for JROTC units, and lobby for establishment of these units with the service JROTC program managers, in order to increase opportunities for Mississippi students to participate in JROTC programs.

• Work with national JROTC curriculum managers to better align JROTC course curriculums with Mississippi curriculum framework standards.

• Develop close working relationship with personnel at military facilities in Mississippi to publicize the position of JROTC instructor as an opportunity for a second career for retiring military personnel.

• Increase the number of JROTC cadets that have the opportunity to fly on Mississippi Air National Guard aircraft.

6

MISSISSIPPI JROTC STATEWIDE COORDINATOR

PRIMARY GOALS

• Increase the number of Mississippi JROTC units to 92 by 2013.

• JROTC instructor vacancy percentage less than 2% statewide

• Approval of JROTC as a substitution for other courses required for graduation,

in addition to physical fitness

7

APPENDICES

Appendix A: List of Mississippi JROTC Units by Military Service

Army Units

|Amite County High School |

|Bailey Magnet High School |

|Bassfield High School |

|Bay Springs High School |

|Brandon High School |

|Brookhaven High School |

|Callaway High School |

|Clarksdale High School |

|D'Iberville High School |

|Florence High School |

|Forest Hill High School |

|Franklin High School |

|Gentry High School |

|George County High School |

|Hancock High School |

|Harrison Central High School |

|Hattiesburg High School |

|Hazlehurst High School |

|Hinds County Agricultural High School |

|Jefferson County High School |

|Jim Hill High School |

|Kemper County High School |

|Lanier High School |

|Lawrence County High School |

|Louisville High School |

|McComb High School |

|McLaurin Attendance Center |

|Meridian High School |

|Murrah High School |

|North Panola High School |

|Northwest Rankin High School |

|Ocean Springs High School |

|Pelahatchie High School |

|Piney Woods School |

|Port Gibson High School |

|Prentiss High School |

|Provine High School |

|Quitman High School |

|Richland High School |

|South Delta High School |

|South Pike High School |

|Starkville High School |

|Terry High School |

|Velma Jackson High School |

|Vicksburg High School |

|Wayne County High School |

|West Harrison High School |

|West Point High School |

|Wilkinson County High School |

|Wingfield High School |

|Yazoo City High School |

|Yazoo County High School |

Appendix A

Appendix A: List of Mississippi JROTC Units by Military Service

|Air Force Units |Navy Units |Marine Corps Units |

| | | |

|Aberdeen High School |Canton Public High School |Gulfport High School |

|Bay High School |Gautier High School |Horn Lake High School |

|Biloxi High School |Greenwood High School |Oxford High School |

|Columbus High School |Grenada High School | |

|Crystal Springs High School |Moss Point High School | |

|Greenville - Weston High School |Neshoba Central High School | |

|Holly Springs High School |Northeast Lauderdale High School | |

|Lafayette High School |Pascagoula High School | |

|Madison Central High School |Pearl High School | |

|Natchez High School |Pearl River Central High School | |

|New Albany High School |Picayune Memorial High School | |

|Noxubee County High School |Warren Central High School | |

|Raymond High School | | |

|Ridgeland High School | | |

|Rosa Fort High School | | |

|South Panola High School | | |

|St Martin High School | | |

|West Lowndes High School | | |

Appendix B: “Inspiring Citizenship” JROTC Flyer

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MISSISSIPPI JROTC STATEWIDE COORDINATOR

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