|
|
 |
|
The Founding and Progress of JROTC
|
|
The history of the JROTC program
goes back to 1916 when Congress passed the National Defense Act (NDA), which started the JROTC program, and gave it it's name,
as long as JROTC programs kept the cadet number above 100 and followed a strict curriculum, set down by the government. Forty
eight years later, in 1964 Congress passed the ROTC Vitilization Act, which required all JROTC programs were instructed by
retired military personnel. Although it took a while, females were officially allowed to be a part of the JROTC program in
1972, and by 1993 females contributed to 40% of all JROTC cadets.
To this day JROTC programs continue to grow and
expand all over the United States, and to this day our mission rings clear:
"To motivate young people to
become better citizens."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eagle Battalion History:
The Thomas Edison Preparatory School JROTC was created on July 1, 1995. From 1995 until 2005 the senior Army Instructor (SAI)
was Major (RET) Garnett Arnold. Soon, Master Sergeant (RET) George Tabor joined and began shaping the JROTC program. Edison
was being represented in state drill meets and was forming a precision air rifle team in no time. At one point, the rifle
team even participated at the national level. The program also attended the annual JROTC summer camp, JCLC, at Fort Sill.
In 2004, Master Sergeant (RET) Marteen took over the duties of Master Sergeant Tabor. One year afterwards, Major Arnold
put in his notice to seek further education, Marteen left as well.
Things were not looking good for the Thomas Edison JROTC program during the summer of 2005, but two people stood up and
accepted the challenge: Lt. Colonel (RET) Stephen King and First Sergeant (RET) Raymond Shipps. Edison welcomed both men
with arms wide open and the program hit the ground running. Despite the situation of having two new instructors at once,
Edison did attend the 2005 Tulsa Drill Meet and the 2005 JCLC at Fort Sill.
Today the JROTC is as strong as Lt. Colonel King and 1st Sergeant Shipps intend it to be. We have both Varsity and Junior
Varsity teams for Armed and Unarmed regulation drill. We also have a powerful Color Guard and Saber team. The formation of
our Armed Exhibition teams is an example of just how involved our students are in the program. In 2006 we took 2nd place in
the Tulsa drill meet and in 2007 we took 1st in both the Tulsa drill meet and the Cadet Physical Challenge. In both 2006 and
2007 we were awarded the Honored Unit of the year.
If anything can be said about our JROTC program and its cadets, it is our daily motto:
JavaFILE
![]()
We Are The Eagles, This Is What We Say...
LEAD!
FOLLOW!
Or Get Out Of The Way!
>>HOO-AH<<
|
|
|
|