The Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) program at Milpitas High School is a 48-year program that offers high school students the opportunity to develop strong leadership and communication skills, character, citizenship, patriotism, and community service. It is the only NJROTC program in the South Bay. And it is in danger of falling by the wayside. The Navy has indicated that the program needs to maintain at least 100 students to be funded by the Department of Defense.
The Milpitas Beat recently wrote a great article detailing the positive impact on the students. In this opinion-editorial, I want to add my thoughts on why it is essential to continue to offer this pathway to our students.
Students who join the NJROTC are not part of the military. They are exposed to an additional curriculum emphasizing citizenship, leadership development, and the Navy’s maritime heritage. The student’s educational experience is enhanced through extracurricular activities that include community service, field meets, drills, and competitions. The program also prepares students for college in these ways:
- Free ACT/SAT preparation
- Through the structured program, students tend to have higher GPAs (the higher attendance, self-confidence, and self-esteem brought about by the program are key factors that promote academic success)
- Even if the student is not interested in pursuing a career in the military, their experiences as a cadet (teamwork, communication, responsibility, self-discipline, etc.) will nurture critical life skills they can use forever
For those who wish to pursue the military as a pathway, the program can help them with potential opportunities such as:
- Opportunity to be nominated into the U.S. Naval Academy (3 nominations)
- Opportunity to become a Distinguished Unit with Academic Honors (allows nominations of three additional eligible NJROTC cadets as candidates for appointment into the U.S. Naval Academy, U. S. Military Academy, and U.S. Air Force Academy)
- Potential accelerated path to certain ranks (check with the Navy recruiter)
And those students who choose not to pursue college at this time can take these valuable skills into the workplace, where skills and abilities are sought.
I invite the Naval chain of command to visit the program. They will not only see that the MHS NJROTC program is outstanding, but we need their support to continue this tradition and pride in the community. As it is the only program of its kind in the South Bay, we should explore ways to:
- Work with the US Navy and Department of Defense for a long-term strategy (3-5 years) to keep this pathway at MHS
- Educate families about what NJROTC offers
- Increase our recruitment (perhaps even in our neighboring areas)
- Get additional support for marketing the program
- Partner with our local officials for further support and opportunities
- Encourage our community to spread the word. If you know of students who are interested in or could benefit from a more structured program, encourage them to check out the NJROTC.
Let’s work together to keep this pathway available to our students. Feel free to email me with any ideas you may have.
Robert Jung
Milpitas Unified School District Trustee
