Trinity JROTC receives DOD funding
Notice: Undefined variable: article_ad_placement3 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/single.php on line 128
Trinity High School’s Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program recently received a boost from the U.S. Department of Defense.
The DOD notified Trinity JROTC instructor, retired U.S. Army Maj. Erek Clacks, that the agency will fund Trinity’s program. “It’s truly significant,” said Clacks. “We are going to be supported by the Department of Defense, which will provide us with the necessary funding for all the resources we need to operate the program.”
The DOD will contribute roughly $150,000 to $200,000 annually, which covers uniforms, textbooks, training aids and instructors’ salaries.
There are 1,670 DOD-supported Army JROTCs across the country. and about 200 schools on the waiting list for funding.
Trinity’s program – the only JROTC program in Washington County – is entering its fifth year, and 70 students are enrolled in the elective course.
Before the program received DOD funding, Clacks relied on support from other JROTC programs and collegiate ROTC programs, and the school district covered the cost of instructors’ salaries.
“They all kind of pitched in and supported us whatever way they could – uniforms, shoes, you name it. We got to the point where we didn’t have to call around. People would call me and say, ‘Hey Erek, we’ve got 10 pairs of shoes. Do you want them?'” said Clacks, recalling his efforts to track down a pair of size 15 shoes for a cadet. “Without that, and the support of the administration, I don’t think we could have survived. Other schools have been in the situation we were in and folded. But we thrived.”
Trinity’s JROTC curriculum follows guidelines set by the U.S. Army.
Classes include topics such as U.S. military history, first aid, human relations, techniques for oral communication, drill and ceremony, military map reading, personal hygiene, marksmanship and orienteering, and are taught by Clacks and ret. U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Quentin Harper.
Cadets also participate in community parades, school functions and public service projects; tutor; organize an annual 9/11 memorial flag display; and compete against other JROTC teams at state, regional and national meets.
The main goals, said Clacks, are to teach leadership and good citizenship.
“We have students who are dedicated to being involved in a program that will cater to their character development and prepare them for the next step in life, whatever that might be,” said Clacks. “Some are going to the military, some are going to college, some are going to trade school. It doesn’t matter, because what we teach here is universal. It’s preparation for the next chapter in life. The program is about motivating young people to be better citizens, to get them thinking, ‘How can I be of value to my family, my school, my community? How can I become an asset, and what role can I play to make a difference?'”
Senior Brandon Bruce, 17, a JROTC battalion commander, said he has gained leadership skills and has formed close friendships through the program.
“I didn’t even know this program existed at Trinity when I got there, but once they introduced it, I took the bull by the horns, so to speak, and worked with it,” said Bruce, who plans to pursue a career in intelligence and national security and has applied for a four-year Air Force ROTC scholarship. “It’s been very enriching and an excellent learning experience. The ROTC is very student-driven and student-run. We’re a very close-knit group. I’ve gotten so much from the JROTC.”
Superintendent Michael Lucas said the district has been told it would “be impossible” to secure DOD funding.
“Maj. Clacks has been working on this challenge for several years. He always assured me that he would make sure Trinity receives the federal funding,” said Lucas. “Through his persistence and unwavering commitment to our students, the JROTC will remain an integral part of Trinity School District. The board directors and school community are so appreciative of his efforts to add sustainability to this amazing program for years to come.”
JROTC students are not obligated to serve in the military when they graduate.
Clacks did not have information on the number of Trinity JROTC students who graduated in June 2017 and then either entered the military or attended college on an ROTC scholarship, but acknowledged some cadets had.
Said Clacks, who is nearing completion of a doctoral degree in education, “To me, the biggest thing about JROTC is watching the students grow as young people. (JROTC) is a challenge that takes them out of their comfort zone, but that’s what they’re going to need as they move forward in life.”