Should 6th and 7th graders Also Have JROTC?

Opinion piece by Angela Allen 
Photos by JROTC Facebook Page 

As we all know, JROTC is in the high school and 8th grade, and we also now have a 5th grade program going on, too.

The 5th graders are working really hard, and it was a fight to give them that program, but really, now what? They go through that, and then that's it?

What's the point for these kids working hard and striving in the program just for them to not have a future in it until their 8th grade year?

It was really a fight to get JROTC into the 5th grade. If you don't know, 5th graders have an after-school activity for the students who wanna learn how to march along with other basic drill movements, and from word they will be featured in the Veterans Day Parade!

From this, I wanna know what the hold-up is or what there is to think about to bring it into the 6th and 7th grade.

Now people would probably start to wonder how they would be able to include them, simply they can make the class a combined class like they have at the high school.

Honestly I know it could be a lot of work to get it put in, but really there is no debate about this, the school board should hear this out from the parents with the kids that are in the program and if their are parents out their that would want their kids in it or even if its just the public in general, this is all of everyone that isn’t in the program too.

I feel they should give it a try and work it out so people can really go and work themself to the best of their ability,

The 5th, 8th, and all the high school students love the program, and JROTC can give them more in life than what most realize, you can get scholarships, colleges will look at you more and would rather a kid that has been in that, and if they are in the program for the military they will be able to have a higher rating, plus some benefits and this is just from doing it in high school think about how much more you can get out of it if you’re in it for longer.

There is already a change in the 5th graders, it shows them dedication, respect, responsibility, and so much more, just from a different perspective.

I can go on and on about how JROTC can help in every way, but I won't. Stop and ask yourself, would you like this to be a thing for 6th and 7th grade, too? Will you hear me out with what I have to say? Does this have to be another fight for JROTC and the school board to go against?
Thank you.

*DISCLAIMER* -- JROTC is NOT a program to recruit kids to join the military, it is just a program that goes with the procedures to teach kids to become better citizens.

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And as always, GO JROTC TIGERS!