John Dewey’s JROTC is starting off the new year with great success.
In early December, the JROTC participated in the Round Robin Competition at Port Richmond High School. They secured second place in the Knowledge Bowl event and third place in the Color Guard event. You might be wondering: what is JROTC?
A relatively new program at John Dewey, the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps has a lot to offer. The JROTC teaches students the values of leadership, teamwork, service and self-discipline. Throughout a student’s time in the JROTC program, they encounter opportunities for community service, self-improvement, and leading other cadets.
The program currently includes four teams: academic, drill, color guard, and the Raiders. The academic team, also known as the knowledge team, consists of academically inclined students who compete in the JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl on a local and national level. The drill team and color guard team are marching units that focus on military drill. The drill team participates in competitive marching competions, and the color guard is responsible for presenting the colors–the American and state flags–in a variety of settings, including competitions and special events. The Raider team is composed of athletic students who are to participate in the Raider Challenge. The Radier Challenge is a national athletic competition that hosts JROTC programs from all over the country. It includes events such as obstacle courses, rope bridge construction, and distance running. In addition to these teams, the JROTC is hoping to include a robotics and cyber team when they gain more members.
John Dewey’s JROTC has been increasing in popularity throughout the school year, but there are still some misconceptions the cadets hope to address. Cadet Mohammad Qureshi says: “I think a common misconception, which has kind of stopped people from being recruited, is that people think they’re going to join the military.” The JROTC does not require or guarantee future military service. It is, however, an amazing opportunity for any student considering applying to college or entering the workforce after graduation. Ms. Nancy Woods, assistant principal of the arts and STEM academies, emphasizes this point: “Statistics show kids that are in the JROTC in high school go on to college and get scholarships because they were in the JROTC.”
The JROTC is currently coordinating future fundraising and outreach events within the school to educate students about the program and to afford t-shirts and more equipment.
The next time you see a JROTC student, don’t be afraid to ask questions, as they’ll be happy to share! If you’re on the fence about joining the program, consider joining the JROTC club. They meet Mondays through Thursdays in room 278B after 8th period.
