“100 Years of JROTC: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”
"It is up to us to live up to the legacy that was left for us, and to leave a legacy that is worthy of our children and of future generations" (Christine Gregoire); JROTC is legacy derived from the need to make a difference, that legacy changes the lives of many students today. JROTC is a program to help students better themselves and become better citizens. As with all legacies, they do not remain the same forever, the history of JROTC's will change it, the difference between the past and present of this program can be seen and where it's going can be inferred.
The national defense act of 1916 is what started it all. June 3rd of 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signs the law that will expand
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In the beginning the ROTC was somewhat of an exchange, “During the Civil War, Congress voted to provide free land for civilian colleges that agreed to offer military instruction to their students.” (http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1969/2/3/how-rotc-got-started-/). It also started out with a very different focus compare to what it is today. “Once looked upon primarily as a source of enlisted recruits and officer candidates, it became a citizenship program devoted to the moral, physical and educational uplift of American youth” (http://www.cadetcommand.army.mil/jrotc-history.aspx). While JROTC has changed within the span of its existence it has become a program near and dear to the hearts of many …show more content…
Between the tug a war between the desire to defend this amazing nation and the desire to appease others the fate of JROTC can be no more predictable than the end of the world. While that seems a bit drastic, human behavior leaves a lot to be questioned. History can repeat itself like it has so many times before. Whether it be that the U.S finds itself in war once again and needs to strengthen its militia or that people are corralled into fear or hatred by propaganda. JROTC, could once again become focused on training youth to be a part of the U.S Military, or it can be shut down by the people who fear that their children will be turned into machines built for war. JROTC can become the target for terrorist attacks, defeat them before they are trained. There are so many paths it could take, how many faults could be made or devastations that would tear the program down right to its foundation. Yet, it would be best if those thoughts were not options but instead a simple fear or paranoia of the unknown. The future of the JROTC program can only be determined by the people care for it now. William Shakespeare once wrote “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves”, when it comes to the future of this program it cannot be left to fate to decide whether or not this program will flourish. Every day that choice must be