Advantages of NJROTC Program for GHS Students
By Commander Joe Rutkowski

Grenada High School is blessed to have a Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) program. The NJROTC program has been at GHS for most of the last two decades and has touched the lives of more than two thousand students. Some have taken full advantage of all it has to offer, but all have been changed forever. Some have joined the military upon graduation and most have gone on to college.

The military style training was originally established at a few individual schools. In the 1960’s Congress saw how this training assisted in keeping students in school and enacted federal legislation to institute and formalize such training at schools all across the country. Junior ROTC is perfect for the student wanting to work in a team environment to accomplish tasks of increasing complexity. It is designed to teach and provide experience in leadership training to the high school student.

NJROTC training is designed to help students learn that the business of leadership is about receiving and following directions and orders willingly, supporting your formal leadership chain, and implementing action through your subordinates down the chain. Leadership can only succeed if the communications up and down the chain keep you informed; and more importantly you keep your subordinates informed. Most of all, your success depends upon your ability to listen to your subordinates and adjust your directions accordingly.

As a military style program, students are expected to wear military uniforms one day a week. They are expected to wear their clothes (both school uniform and military uniform) appropriately per military and school regulations. Male haircuts and female hair styles, ear rings, and jewelry must also meet military requirements when in uniform, or whenever representing the Naval service. Training takes place in the classroom environment, on short field trips, and longer travel experiences. It is based on textbook material and curriculum and experiencing hands-on situations.

Ultimately, the NJROTC program is different from all the other high school classes. It would be a mistake to misconstrue this military style training as “just another class.” It is a supportive, friendly environment where students learn about their limitations and strengths, to follow orders, and grow into leadership positions as they mature. It is a place to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. In the end, NJROTC and those programs hosted by the other military services are established to help build a better student and adult.