Alachua County is home to not one, but three Junior ROTC programs that benefit their schools, students and communities.
Gainesville High School – Navy ROTC program
Gainesville High School’s Navy ROTC (NJROTC) program focuses on the fundamentals of citizenship, discipline, and accomplishment, putting students on a path to work towards their goals for their future.
Recently partnered with Embry Riddle, students also have the opportunity to take dual enrollment courses in 11th and 12th grade, allowing them to earn high school and college credit in classes such as Introduction to Aeronautical Science and Drone licensing. Embry Riddle absorbs 99% of this cost, making it an excellent and affordable opportunity for students to work in the STEM field while earning college credit.
Major Dennis Wait, who leads the GHS NJRTOCS program, stated, “We have students from all walks of life, but we are a family. We tell them, you can come here and be you. This program pays dividends and prepares each student to take the next step in life.”
Bucholz High School – Air Force ROTC
Buchholz High School’s Air Force ROTC (AFJROTC) mission is to “Develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community.” AFJROTC is a Title 10 U.S. code-mandated citizenship training program designed to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship, promote community service, and instill personal responsibility, character and self-discipline. The program achieves this through classroom education in air and space fundamentals and hands-on learning opportunities in many fun and challenging extra-curricular activities.
Col. James Roberts leads the BHS AFJROTC program, and it is grounded in the Air Force core values of “integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.”
Eastside High School – Navy ROTC
The Navy ROTC (NJROTC) program at Eastside High School is a program that students can take as a class during the day or after school as a 7th-period class. Students participate in numerous competitions throughout the year. Archery, rifle skills, Drill Team, Honor Guard, and knowledge-based competitions hone the skills of the cadets.
Commander Byron Hickman of EHS’s NJROTC program said, “I consider the NJROTC Programs the best kept secret in Alachua County.”
The goals of the junior ROTC programs are to:
- Promote Patriotism
- Develop informed and responsible citizens
- Develop leadership potential
- Promote Habits of orderliness and precision and develop respect for constituted authority
- Develop a high degree of personal honor, self-reliance, individual discipline and leadership
- Promote an understanding of the essential elements and requirements for national security
- Develop respect for and an understanding of the need for constituted authority in a democratic society
- Provide incentives to live healthy and drug-free
It is important to note that students who sign up for these programs are under no obligation to join the military. In fact, after graduation, 10-15% of JRTOC programs join the military, while 60-70% go on to higher education, and others join the workforce right away with excellent skill sets to better prepare them for the future.
Greater Gainesville’s future is looking brighter than ever, with over 4,000 community service hours given by Alachua County JROTC students just last year.
By Meredith Biesinger.