The school shooting in FL has once again highlighted the role of the military in our lives and in our schools. It’s time to stop the militarization of our children and end the JROTC program. The Parkland high school JROTC program taught Nikolas Cruz to shoot an AR-15 and was funded by the NRA. Our schools should be filled with trained educators, not a proving ground for military-style assault rifles.
Tell Senator McCain and Representative Thornberry to take the war machine out of our schools! The JROTC program must end immediately. The money should be directed back into classrooms that educate our children.
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C/LcCpl Chavez aka A Band Geek.
#fuckcodepink
#fuckcodepink
In fact, the only rifle that I ever got my hands on in the JROTC program was a decommissioned (none-serviceable) de-activated rifle incapable of firing any ammunition cartridges, or the chambering of any ammunition whatsoever. The rifle had an 18 inch rod welded into the barrel to prevent it from ever being used again, and was only used for Honor Guard marches, and drill team functions.
JROTC is not what you think it is, and it doesn’t prepare students for their futures in the military. Upon completion of 4 years, I did receive a certification of completion which allowed me to enter the service as an E-3 rather than an E-1, but in no way did my 4 years in JROTC prepare me for the transition into military life. That was procured on day-1 entering the military.
For you to flat out lie that our schools are teaching students to “kill” is an insult to the highest degree, and I demand that this page be audited and taken down for it’s efforts to falsely interpret the work that our nation’s military has provided in keeping the nations None-Commissioned Officers and Senior Instructors the chance to educate and stand as mentor’s over our nation’s students.
SSGT S. Eriksen
Former US Army.
SO I SAY TO ALL, LET JROTC REMAIN UNTOUCHED AND LOYAL TO EVERY CORP OF CADETS!
Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high, into the sun,
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At ’em boys, Give’er the gun! (Give’er the gun now!)
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one heckuva roar!
We live in fame, or go down in flame,
Hey! Nothing’ll stop the U.S. Air Force!
JROTC also had a big impact on how I handled bulling in my school. I learned the resolve and wit to be able to handle bullies and stand up for anyone I observed being treated any way other than respectfully. By reading over your founders and staff section, I believe I can safely say you have no idea of what a young male goes through in his daily high school life. You may say you do but based on your staffs bio, none of you have ever lived it. Without the JROTC program, I would have been lost in high school.
Based on the comments, it does not seem that you have much positive feedback on this action and I believe it is because you are thinking of how everything affects you and people like you. That is a very narrow minded approach and will only lead to more devastation. You are attacking a program that teaches our young Americans that it still means something to be called an American, a fact that based on your actions, you all have forgotten a long time ago.
Please consider the potential consequences of your actions. You are attempting to take away a program that has great value to schools, communities, and students themselves.
I do not agree with the actions you are taking and the stance you have on key political interests, however, I do respect all of your opinions and believe it is your right to have your voice heard. I learned that in JROTC.
I want to thank BLANCHE DEVEROUX, because after reading her comment I decided to post my 2 cents. Thank you.
Tansey, T. ,MSgt, Ret
P.S.: I didn’t think that JROTC would shoot actual weapons, they DO NOT! The claim that JROTC “taught the shooter to shoot an AR-15” is so dishonest of you. At the most they used air rifles in the 3rd or 4th year. An air riffle is a far cry from “They are teaching kids to go to war!” Another point I wanted to make is you think everything can be solved peacefully with “flowers and treats”. What happens when peace talks fail? In your eyes is their ever a time for hostilities? Maybe as they are bombing us you would be ok to fighting back? If Iran/North Korea is allowed to develop a nuclear weapon it will mean ANYONE with the money will be able to place their order for a nuclear weapon. If that happens it will fall solely on the backs of people like you.
Blanche
MSG, US Army®