Most participants don’t join military

I have to object to the Saturday letter that complained about the JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) program in the Arlington School District being “an Army camp” and “recruiting program for the U.S. Air Force.” Nothing could be further from the truth, or more misguided.

I was a member of the JROTC program in my hometown of Yakima, rising to the position of cadet battalion commander, and also a member of its drill team, and elected to the school senate on its behalf. JROTC is not a recruiting program at all. Instead, it teaches responsibility, leadership, citizenship, history and gives its members a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves.

Very few of the people who join JROTC go on to serve in the military (though I did), and most end up going on to college better prepared than they might have been. JROTC enforces the importance of good grades and performance in your classes, and isn’t that what school is supposed to be about?

So instead of just bashing a worthwhile program such as this, learn something about it and then decide.

Daniel R. Eakin