The first Wyoming based Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) Program was announced at an open house at Kelly Walsh High School in Casper, WY, Dec. 18, 2017.
There are more than 200 schools with MCJROTC programs, ranging from Matthew C. Perry Schools in Iwakuni, Japan, to Adams City High School in Commerce City, Colorado, and the newest school, Kelly Walsh, in Casper, WY.
“We’re so excited up here. Because of our remodeling that’s gone on here, our facility will be first rate,” said Duane Reimer, a teacher at Kelly Walsh High School. “A facility and teaching space is hard to come by, but it all fell in to place. We couldn’t be more thankful for all the help and support of the local Marines.”
Since the MCJROTC program was first created in 1916, it has provided young adults with the opportunity to learn leadership skills while also giving back to their local community as model citizens. MCJROTC units play a crucial role in shaping a community’s perception of the Marine Corps.
“It’s important to learn about hard work and sacrifice at a young age,” said Reimer. “One of the big pillars in our school is service to your community, so this JROTC program gets our kids out into our community and refining skills like leadership and a sense of responsibility. We live in a society that every day seems to demonstrate its march to oblivion; any time you can talk to kids and show them what the right thing is, its one more piece in the puzzle to building a great American society.”
Reimer mentioned that the faculty at Kelly Walsh did research regarding other JROTC units across the states of Wyoming, finally deciding on establishing a Marine Corps JROTC due to one not existing in the state yet, and a bit of friendly rivalry.
“Natrona County (High School) has an Army JROTC, and we wanted to be better,” said Reimer. “If you go to any kind of public event in Casper, you see the Army JROTC and their color guard, and now we get to have JROTC Marines here too.”
Instructors for the program are still being selected, but the school intends to have the class open to students at the beginning of the next school year.
“I think it’s an absolutely amazing opportunity for the students and the community,“ said Staff Sgt. Cody Wallace, Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge for Recruiting Sub-Station Casper, Recruiting Station Denver. “It will not only help the students refine skills like self confidence, leadership and courage, while having great Marine Corps leaders to guide them, it will engrain in them the qualities necessary to thrive in any career.”
For those considering a career in the military, participating in the MCJROTC program for at least two academic years are eligible to be promoted upon joining the Marine Corps. Additional information can be found on the Marine JROTC website at http://www.mcjrotc.marines.mil/.