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The JROTC Newsletter
Issue 4
the_jrotc_en@geocities.com
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Oh boy...this is going to be an interesting ish! Ever since I printed that submission from Andrew Olson about JROTC being a waste of time, the replies came pouring in. I keep getting new subscribers and submissions, more evidence that the newsletter is really taking off! Do not forget to read the faq at the end for important info on how to submit, subscribe, and cancel your subscription. Also, I know there will be some excellent Summer Leadership School stories you will want to share, so send them to The JROTC Newsletter!
LAST MINUITE UPDATE: We now have 107 subscribers (if I counted right)!!!!
In this issue...
*RE: ROTC TOO TOUGH
*1: by C/Lt Col. Andrew J. Chasteen
*2: by A.G. Cole
*3: by Katherine Keirns
*4: by Shaun Khoenle
*5: by Joshua Wells
*Quote of the Day
*Pass and Review Problem
*Input Request
*Anti-Anti-JROTC
*LINKS
*FAQ
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RE: ROTC TOO TOUGH? (1)
Submission by C/Lt Col. Andrew J. Chasteen
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In reply to the comments by Mr. Andrew Olson,
Mr. Olson, JROTC is a military based program designed to teach
discipline and the values held by this country's military organization.
These values are the same values which have kept this country safe from
those who would like to take away those freedoms which allow you to express
your opinions freely. JROTC is designed to bring those values, and the
discipline that some say is lacking in the youth of today. Drill, customs
and courtesies, and the wear of the uniform are all part of the teaching of
discipline. This discipline learned in JROTC affect a person's character
and even their work ethic, making them more productive citizens and better
people in general. JROTC gives students direction, and helps them establish
goals for themselves. In some cases, JROTC helps students get away from bad
situations such as drug use, criminal activity, or just bad grades in
school. The values and discipline taught in JROTC, can be applied throught
life even and especially in the civlian world. A disciplined person is
obviously more likely to succeed in life and in a career, then a person
without discipline or goals. In conclusion Mr. Olson, I suggest you look at
the big picture and all the differant life applications of JROTC before you
criticize it.
To all cadets in Duluth, MN, fight to keep your program going and
good luck to you!
C/ Lt Col. Andrew J. Chasteen
Squadron Commander AFJROTC TX-959
Temple High School, Temple, TX
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RE: ROTC TOO TOUGH? (2)
Submission by A.G. Cole
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I would like to submit this article in respons to Andrew Olson.
I was greatly disturbed after reading the article submitted by Andrew
Olson and wish to share my point of view on his argument. First of all, in
response to his claim that JROTC cadets are intimidating, I would like to say
that if he feels any hostility stemming from individual cadets it is not a
JROTC problem but a personal one. JROTC does not make cadets aggresive
towards others, but promotes good behavior and citizenship. So to insinuate
that JROTC is the cause of aggresion towards fellow students is ridiculous. I
suggest that if he has a problem with certain cadets he should not simply
blame it on JROTC but attempt to personally resolve the situation or consult a
higher authority (the NSI included). At my high school many student might be
intimated by the football team or wrestling squad but does that mean they
should be removed? I certainly believe not. Furthermore, in regard to his
question of why we practice, "military techniques...that you will really never
use for the rest of your life..." I again return to the sport analogy. How
many student athletes go on to play professional sports? The answer is:
practically none. The reason students are encouraged to play is because
sports promote the same good qualities that the hours of time spent perfecting
drill do. Both drill and sports require self discipline, obedience, respect
for higher authorities, teamwork, and physical fitness. It also builds pride,
friendship, camraderie and self esteem, it gives a sense of belonging, and
instills confidence. All of these are qualities that prepare student not only
for the military, but more importantly for life. Do you feel that confidence,
discipline, respect, obedience etc. are not qualities future employers look
for in an employee as well. In essence I look at JROTC as not only a class
that can prepare us for the military but one that prepares us for whatever
career we may choose.
Sincerely,
Cadet A.G. Cole
NJROTC
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RE: ROTC TOO TOUGH? (3)
Submission by Katherine Keirns
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Hello, my name is Katherine Keirns and I am a History Major at Mississippi
University for Women, in Columbus Mississippi. Once upon a time I was a
Cadet Colonel in Army JROTC at a Memphis City Schools unit. As I read the
article about the fight against a Naval JROTC unit in Duluth, MN I asked
myself a question. What did I learn in JROTC that has helped me later in
life? The answers did not come readily at the time, but they do now. In
my case, I learned a number of things. I have used the first aide taught
to me twice, once in a life-threatening situation where I managed (thank
God) to stop a woman from breeding to death in a car accident. Secondly,
as a History Major, I am frequently required to analyze films or pictures,
and my knowledge of Drill and Ceremonies tells me a lot when looking at
Military formations. My baring improved, and although some JROTC cadets
might seem intimidating, they are generally the people who would seem so
in uniform or not. And yes, I was thought about weapons in JROTC, I have
an incredible respect for weapons, and weapons safety. Now, when I listen
to a speech from a politician who waves a picture of him in uniform I know
how to read his ribbons and figure if he is telling the truth about how
hard his service was. And you know what the kicker is, I am not in the
military, nor will I ever be in the military. Would be glad to answer any
questions by e-mail, kmk3@muw.edu
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RE: ROTC TOO TOUGH? (4)
Submission by c/CMS Shaun Khoenle
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Hello, I am a member of Air Force JROTC in Ohio. I am responding to the
article about Andrew Olson protesting ROTC in his school. ROTC is the best to
happen to me in along time. As he listed the people that are intimidated by
the cadets, I thought to my self that hardly nobody at my school is
intimidated by me, in fact, just the opposite. In closing, (this going out to
Andrew Olson) don't try to shut something down with out hearing the other side
of it. JROTC opens many doors for students AND is not just for people going
into the military and every body can get something from it. Don't ruin
opportunities for ROTC cadets just because you are "intimidated" by them, if
anything, you should have some respect for them.
Thank You,
c/CMS Shaun Khoenle
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RE: ROTC TOO TOUGH? (5)
Submission by Joshua Wells
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Hello,
My name is Joshua Wells and I live in Shreveport, LA and I would like to
comment on Andrew Olson about his "ROTC TOO TOUGH" submission and say that
you are wrong, you do use a lot of what you learn in ROTC. First you learn
how to give and to take oders. Your need that in any business you go into.
Second the military techniques that you do learn in ROTC is First-Aid, map
reading computer usage, to take and follow oders as I said earlier, and
many others personal I think people will use these skills all there life,
even if they are not in the military. So the ROTC program is a great class
for students to go in for.
Thank you very much
Joshua Wells
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Quote of the Day
Submission by c/Lt Col. Andrew J. Chasteen
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Favorite Quote:
War is an ugly thing but nto the ugliest of things.
The decayed and degraded state
of moral and patriotic feeling
which thinks nothing is worth war,
is much worse.
A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight;
nothing he cares more about than he does about his own
personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of
being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of men
better than himself.
John Stuart Mill
Submited by C/ Lt Col. Andrew J. Chasteen
Squadron Commander AFJTX959
Temple High School, Temple, TX
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Pass and Review Problem
Submission by C/Colonel Brian Voigt
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More tidbits to chuckle over:
Hi, I am Cadet Colonel Brian Voigt, squadron commander for Vista High
School AFJROTC CA-953. Probably one of the funniest things I have seen
recently was a mishap that occurred at a Pass-in-Review that our unit
attended at Ganesha High School in Pomona. The Pass-in-Review was
scheduled to start around 1200 or so, but we were there at 1000. Since
we had so much time we had 2 dry run practices before the actual event
kicked off. The practices went fine and it was time to go eat lunch
before the actual review. We marched in a column of files to the
cafeteria where we all bought lunch which was a hamburger and some other
little finger foods. I decided I probably shouldn't risk spilling
anything on my uniform so I just got a carton of milk to drink. First
thing I notice when I sit down to drink, is our squadron guidon bearer
putting as much ketchup and mustard as he can fit on this hamburger of
his. Well next thing I know I hear a "thump" and I look over and see a
long redish orange trail leading off the edge of the table and seeing my
squadron guidon looking in his lap. I turn and ask him what happened
and all he said was, "Napkins... I need NAPKINS!!" So I run to get
napkins and find out that all they had was those little napkin packets
with a spork in it. Well, that was better than nothing, so we all ended
up opening nearly 30 packets to get the little napkins out of them and
spent the next 5 minutes scrubbing his shirt and pants as much as
possible, and trying to calm him down for fear of him having a stroke.
We eventually decided to have him swap uniforms with one of the other
cadets who was marching in the rear of the formation to help save our
guidon bearer from the embarrasment of marching in front of the whole
squadron with a huge orange hamburger spot on his uniform.
C/Colonel Brian Voigt
CA-953 Squadron Commander
sixty4@earthlink.net
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Input Request
Submission by C/Colonel Brian Voigt
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I would appreciate any input that anyone could give on the following
subjects:
- Any suggestions about community projects/communit service your unit
has participated in or would like to participate in
-Any suggestions about good fundraisers that have brought your units
success in raising money.
You can contact me at sixty4@earthlink.net with any thoughts you might
have. Thank you!
C/Colonel Brian Voigt
Vista High School AFJROTC CA-953
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Anti-Anti-JROTC
Submission by c/SSgt. Dayna Keefe
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It has become a tradition at my school that at least once a year, some
anti-JROTC organization comes to my school. This year it was the people
from the group to de-militarize our schools. They were standing out in
fromt of the school handing out little blue and yellow flyers explaining
why JROTC in the high schools was so bad. I quote from one of the
pamphlets "JROTC teaches young adults how to use rifles and how to kill
people..." I couldn't help but laugh. Use rifles, yes, kill people, well,
I must have missed that lesson. Anyway, after the three cadets and myself
put the flag up, we returned to the JROTC room with a couple of the flyers.
No sooner had we got in the door, were we being herded out by other
cadets. We walked up (I'd like to say we marched up in formation but,) in
a mob to confront the people. We were stopped by the school police officer
telling us to cool it. But we kept on going. We went up to the people and
they kept saying ROTC is wrong because it teaches the next generation how
to shoot guns. And we explained about the safety test that we had to take
before we were allowed near the rifles. Then one of the men asked me, do
you plan on going into the military after you graduate? I looked at him
and said no. Then he asked me why I was in ROTC. I told him that ROTC not
only taught me the fundamentals of US history, but I had learned how to map
read and perform all types of first aid. I went on to explain to him how I
had been able to go Rapelling at the Marine Base and how I had gotten to go
to Camp Pendelton and spend a week there and do all these things. They
were things I never would have done without JROTC. And he adked me what I
thought about them taking ROTC out of my school. I told him it would never
happen. He asked me why. I told him plainly, the ROTC at my school was
like a family, everyone was close to eachother like brothers and sisters. I
told him that the people at school looked up to the ones in ROTC for their
achievements each year. ROTC has allowed me to be the National Colors this
year and hopefully next year also. Through my achievements and
demonstration of my worth, I have my own squad (I'm only a first year and I
got my squad as a PFC, now I'm a Staff Sergeant), I won first place at our
Cadet Challenge (Athletic) competition, beating our Batallion/Brigade
commander. I have moved up from a Private to a Staff Sergeant in barely a
year. I told the man how proud I was to have accomplished so much in so
little time and I told him that ROTC doesn't create soilders, it motivates
young people to be better citizens.
BY: c/ssg Dayna Keefe
SCHOOL: Madison High School
CITY: San Diego
STATE: California
E-MAIL: sweety01@san.rr.com
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Links
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JROTC UNITS
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AFJROTC
*TX-861st Westwood HS Austin, TX.http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/2161/
*061st Derby Ks..................http://members.aol.com/AIMHIGHJM/AFJROTCindex.html
*Los Lunas HS Tiger Battalion....http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/1686
*OH-091 Web Site.................http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/2107
*Bedford HS Army JROTC...........http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/4961/JROTC.html
ROTC/JROTC MISC
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World Wide Web
*JROTC Universe..................http://members.tripod.com/~megaman34001/Index.html
*AFJROTC HQ......................http://members.tripod.com/~afjrotc_1/
Newsgroups
*alt.military.afrotc
*alt.military.cadet
--Submit your site by sending email to the_jrotc_en@geocities.com--
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FAQ v1.1
Editors note: Again, here is the FAQ for new subscribers
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The JROTC Newsletter FAQ (v 1.1)
==================================
"*" Is beside anything that has been updated or added since the last FAQ came out
If you have a question that you think should be added to the FAQ, email the_jrotc_en@geocities.com
*Q: What is the JROTC Electronic Newsletter?
A: The JROTC Electronic Newsletter is an email newsletter sent to anyone on the mailing list. It contains news, info, links, and other interesting stuff. The best part about it is that anyone can submit a JROTC article.
Q: How do I subscribe?
A: Send email to "the_jrotc_en@geocities.com" with subscribe somewhere in the subject line (for filter purposes), and wait a few weeks until the first issue comes out.
* Q: When will the first issue come out?
A: When I get enough articles. Please, please, please send in articles!
* Q: Who can write an article, and what does it have to be about?
A: Anyone can write an article. Just send it to "the_jrotc_en@geocities.com" with submission anywhere in the heading (again for filtering purposes). It can be about anything, but since it is a JROTC newsletter, make it have something to do with JROTC. I will read all of the articles submitted. The final cut is up to me, but unless the article is really bad, it will most likely make it in. For more info see the web page at "http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/1055/". You can also add a link to your favorite JROTC website. Just send it as if you were sending any other aritcle submission.
Q: How can I be removed from the mailing list?
A: Be removed? Why would anybody want to be removed? If you want to be removed, email "the_jrotc_en@geocities.com".
Q: What if I have any other questions or comments?
A: By now I think you could probably just guess....email "the_jrotc_en@geocities.com".
--THE END--
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