What are your thoughts on a Vet who wants to remove JROTC from a local school?

SSgt (Join to see) - These kids wear their uniforms to school all day, usually only weekly, and experience uniform inspections which factor into their grade for the course during the JROTC class hour. Most of them are not the sloppy inattentive types, and if there are a few exceptions, well...they're kids...they're learning (and probably freshman at 14-15 years old). If you think a student-child running round in a uniform looks sloppy, well then you can only begin to imagine how the 20+ Year Retired Military Instructors inspecting them feel about it...don't think they aren't all about Correction in that scenario.

Come to think of it, I'm going to tie in this topic with another recently popular topic here on RP. Given that Active Duty NCOs these days apparently have to coddle (some of the) new Active Duty Officers by "grooming them up", the idea is consistent that HS JROTC aids the regular guy who Enlists at 18 into an increased chance they'll might actually make an NCO rank before their first enlistment is up. Consistency suggests if one is good, than so is the other.

Cpl Christopher Bishop - Correct me if I'm wrong, but, one of the primary goals is to instill discipline, among other things, in youth. If I am wrong, then there is no need to have the uniform at all. Give em a t-shirt that says Jr. Leader or something.

It seems to me that you may think that keeping a uniform neat and tidy might be too much for someone who is between 14 and 18 years old. In reality, it is one of the most basic, expected skills that a trainee is required to know. It is not unreasonable to expect your JROTC cadets to maintain their uniform over the course of a school day (which is typically around 6.5 to 7 hours long).

The fact is, as I've stated before, many have died in that uniform. Respect for that should not only be expected but demanded. Again, if you want to allow for sloppy uniform practices, design a uniform that has lose ties to currently used uniforms. To many, the uniform is not just a bunch of cloth put together to cover the body, it is much more.

Another problem a lot of JROTC programs have is getting uniforms that fit. Especially with the government cutbacks and recent uniform changes. It's not the same as it was when I was in HS back in the late 80s early 90s. Especially in areas without a large military presence.

SSgt (Join to see) - I don't think I'm in much disagreement with you. I just see anyone wearing the uniform (and attempting to do the right way) is giving some credence to the military and its past and present service members. Further, you have to understand that these do exist in part because they are an extension of recruitment. Military recruiters whom are often in touch with these units have a marginally easier time recruiting if one is already familiar with a lot of the things most others would never get their heads around until Boot Camp. That said, its not ALL about that recruitment. It develops some students into better citizens, whether they join the military or not.

I sense that the collective amount of effort that goes into everybody freaking out about Stolen Valor asshats goes a bit too far at times. JROTC uniforms have patches as well as a different set of Rank Insignia that they cannot be confused with Active Duty folks (at least, to the Active Duty trained eyes). It also gives younger people an opportunity to show their support for military, something most complain there isn't enough of. These are not the people running around sporting 6 Medals of Honor, 5 Navy Crosses, etc.

And no, I don't think learning to wear those uniforms is too much to expect of them. Granted some aren't going to get it all right the first time...but they aren't in Boot Camp or in a Boot Camp type of time frame or environment, either. I was interjecting from another's comment that sometimes they tend to look a little sloppy, and I suggested those are probably the 1st Quarter Freshman, not all of them. Some kids pay very little attention to their own appearance, in general...and for a few kids, JROTC might help them with whatever things went out the door when their Father left the scene, or was asked to. I'm not dissing single mothers, I'm only saying some of them just don't have the time, and some of those won't make that time. Everybody complains about people sitting around on Welfare (except its recipients)...why remove anything that might motivate them while they are younger? Id rather spend a little more on tax dollars going to ROTC and JROTC programs, and spend less paying for others to merely eat food and crap it out. Some of them get into more trouble or more drug use because they need something to do. And then we get taxed to fix that, too.

SA Harold Hansmann LOL agreed.

SA Harold Hansmann, I cannot even add to that. Nice.

I cant improve on your comment, so I will stop here.

SSgt Terry P. - Hey, no fair using pictures of Joe Biden for this discussion. As to the topic, anyone with a functioning brain and not against the military for their shortcomings would shrug this one off.

Well said LCDR Matlow, also I'd like to add, I hate when a narrow minded person tries to remove a successful program from our schools that the majority of the community treasures. Frankly, it offends me.

Me too, 1SG David Lopez

I agree!!

Can I add my vote in agreement on what you said LCDR Rabbi Jaron Matlow

Kids these days don't even have respect, or are already victims of that PC indoctrination, lack of discipline, exercise, and good manners.