McDonald County High School's JROTC program received high marks during its accreditation review and military inspection on Dec. 5.
Lt. Col. Delanie Hook, a student in JROTC, said students gave a brief of their continuous improvement project and golden service project to school faculty members and cadet command. The program also had a federal inspection in which graders came from the Joplin recruiting office and asked individual cadets questions to make sure they were current on the information they needed to know, she said. Cadets also performed a drill and a color guard routine, and there were portfolio reviews with selected cadets by the graders, Hook said.
Barry VandenBerg of the third ROTC Brigade Headquarters at Great Lakes Naval Station in Great Lakes, Ill., listened to presentations by the JROTC students and graded them.
"We graded these guys' work and had to find a way to quantify the work. They did a continuous improvement briefing to show our accrediting agency that they are continuously improving. They did very well. They got at least 95 out of 100, and we're not finished grading it yet," he said.
VandenBerg said a review takes place every third year.
Major Robert Griffiths, JROTC instructor, said the students did an outstanding job.
"Cadets were well prepared and they were able to retain their gold star," he said. The gold star distinguishes the program as an honor unit with distinction, he said.
Elizabeth Grammer of Anderson was among those who attended the event.
"I think these kids are more than just kids," she said. "They're learning a whole lot. It's more than just a uniform. The community involvement that they do -- it's nice to see such young kids getting involved in something besides themselves and hoping they can pay it forward. I have so much respect for both these instructors too. They really put their hearts into it."
General News on 12/13/2018