JROTC donates time to school, staff
Service learning is the main objective of the Junior ROTC program at Russellville High School.
The program, which is new to the school this year and will return next year, allows students to explore different areas of service including learning about good citizenship.
Lt. Col. Norman Lier said the cadets adopted the “It’s Our School” project this year. In this project, the students are taking responsibility for the school they attend.
“The school belongs to everyone,” Lier said. “Students can help with the school’s appearance.”
The cadets decided to help one of the school’s teachers, Suzette Posey, with the butterfly garden this year.
“We are weeding and trimming shrubs and bushes in the garden,” Lier said. “We also have pine bark mulch to go into the garden.”
The cadets will work in the garden this week until it is complete.
“I expect it to take us until Thursday to get the garden ready,” Lier said. “I hope we can help Ms. Posey with the upkeep of the garden next year as well.”
The butterfly garden was built in 2006.
In addition to the work in the garden, Lier said the cadets are being loaned to different teachers, administrators, and other staff to help the school year wind down.
“Teachers have a lot to do in order to get ready for summer break,” Lier said. “From getting text books returned to cleaning the room for next year, our cadets are donating their time to help anyone who needs it.”
Lier said the ROTC program has had a great first year and he anticipates good enrollment in the program next year.
“We don’t have the numbers yet but I expect there to be quite a few more students in the program next year,” Lier said.
Lier said the program is about the students and their service to the community, school and country.
“This class creates a different standard for us as students,” Chastity Jordan said.
Student Jesse Hayne said the program builds character for the students and it’s a fun alternative to a regular classroom.
Senior T.J. Balcom says the program helped with his decision to enlist in the Army, but it wasn’t the main driving force behind his decision.
“I always wanted to join the Army,” Balcom said. “The program helps with information about the Army. He [Lier] is not a recruiter, but he gave us helpful information on the Army and other armed services that helped my decision. Col. Lier and I had a very long talk about it before I made my decision.”
Balcom will leave for basic training at Ft. Benning, Ga. June 6. He will serve in the infantry division of the Army.
