Jun 10, 2009 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Future Connellsville Area Senior High School students will have the opportunity to receive an advance look at what the military has to offer as the administration moves forward with the implementation of a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program. While no formal action was taken at the Monday agenda-setting meeting, the board did give authorization to district Superintendent David Goodin to begin the application process after a determination is made as to what portion of the senior high students would be interested in the program. The implementation of a JROTC program was broached several months ago by board Director Ed Zadylak after he had seen the Albert Gallatin Senior High School junior military organization taking part in an area parade.

“It would open a world of opportunity for our students,” he said. “For a small investment on our part, there would be tremendous advantages, whether the participating student would then enter the military or go into college. It is a win-win situation.”

While the branch of service has yet to be determined, Zadylak said that U.S. Army (retired) Col. Greg Ritch has agreed to help with the program.

Goodin said the program would require the hiring of two people, a retired colonel and staff sergeant with the district responsible for one-half of the salary for the course instructors and the military providing the remaining amount.

He estimated the district’s cost at $150,000 annually.

Director Dr. Sam Martin said that he entered a ROTC program at Duquesne University and found it to be instrumental in his development as he was entering adulthood.

“The program helped focus my life in a very positive direction,” he said.

Goodin, meanwhile, said that administrators have met with members of the Albert Gallatin program.

The school was accepted into the U.S. Army JROTC program in 2003 and was the only high school military program in Fayette County.

Since, Laurel Highlands was accepted into the U.S. Air Force JROTC program.

According to the U.S. Army JROTC Web site, the mission of the program is to “motivate young people to be better citizens.”

The objectives are ethical values and good citizenship; leadership potential; effective communication and logical thinking; improved physical fitness; incentive to live drug-free; positive self-motivation and management; to garner a historical perspective of the military services; the skills to work as a team member and motivation to graduate from high school and pursue a successful career.

Combat skills are not taught in the course and there is no obligation as a member of the high school program to enter into the military after high school graduation.

Goodin said that incoming high school students would be surveyed to determine interest in the program when they return to school in the fall.

“Maybe in three or four years we’ll have our own group of students, dressed in uniform and marching in a parade,” said Zadylak.