High school students congregate at Camp Clark

High school Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) from Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee converged on Camp Clark Sunday for an annual summer training session. Approximately 750 young men and women will undergo the rigorous six days of military- style training conducted in two cycles from June 1 through June 12. Cadets will undergo an Army physical fitness test, go rappelling, learn drown-proofing, experience a leadership reaction course, as well as the usual fun stuff like canoeing, sports, and a picnic. These cadets normally represent the top 10 percent of the JROTC from each of their schools. Many schools have special interview boards to determine who will be selected to attend camp. Some schools have a merit selection system, while others conduct special elimination training. Those who make the grade and manage to attend JROTC Summer Camp are excited about the training, the military environment, and the experiences facing them. JROTC High School Instructors manage the summer camp, with an emphasis on mentoring. There are approximately 160 instructors, chaperones, and support personnel involved in the training. Students are assigned daily leadership positions on a rotational basis, as squad leaders, platoon sergeants, platoon leaders, company first sergeants, and company commanders. They will be rated on their performance of duty for everything accomplished and everything not accomplished. There is a steep learning curve for a young student, averaging 16 years old, and held responsible for a company of 110 other students. JROTC, a 78-year-old congressional program, motivates young people to be better citizens. It does not prepare people for the military, but instead prepares students for the real world by teaching goal setting, problem recognition, problem solving, conflict resolution, theory of motivation, styles of leadership, and even etiquette. It uses a military micro-environment to create senior-subordinate situations for leadership rubrics, as well as teach responsibility for their issued military clothing. Students learn the art of tying a tie, ironing, hanging clothes properly, and maintaining footwear. Cadets successfully completing training will receive certificates as well as a permanent ribbon, which is authorized for wear on their uniform upon return to their home.