Hi Joe! I am writing everybody and any body that can help us keep our Navy JROTC Program at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin Maryland. Listed below are the names of officials that we are emailing to hopefully get a reversal of the decision to cancel our program.
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin
U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski
U.S. Congressman Andy Harris
You probably have seen it on the news or read about it in the paper recently we are desperately trying to keep our program going. The NJROTC has helped so many kids and you can see the pride that they wear on their faces and when they are in uniform. It would be a total shame to lose the program because we were 6 students short this year. Next years numbers are about 125 students. We need 100 minimum.
If you have a moment to read the letter on the Stephen Decatur HS Website and put in a good word for us it would be greatly appreciate. http://www.stephendecatur.org/
Stephen Decatur HS also hosts Drill Meets and Competitions that JROTC Schools attend from all over the state, so this would not just be a loss for Stephen Decatur it would also be a loss to the Maryland State Community.
4 comments:
As a parent of a JROTC member in another school, I support the JROTC and the military. It is sad that the Navy decided to pull out of it's JROTC program at SD, but what the author doesn't say is that the program at SD has consistently experienced low enrollment numbers. This year is the highest enrollment in many years, which is still under the minimum requirement.
The Navy has every right to remove it's funding from units that do not meet the guidelines, however I hope they reconsider a probationary period for the upcoming year to see if the 125 interested in enrolling remain in the program for the entire year. If, at the end of the probationary period they do not have the minimum number of members who have stayed with the program, then they would have at least given the unit a fighting chance before pulling the plug.
Has anyone tried to contact another branch of the Military about taking over the JROTC in SD?
What "Balanced Libra" says is true, but once the school realized that our program was in real jeopardy of being cancelled and that it may be a reality, the instructors and students kicked butt to to change the numbers and push the recruiting campaign forward. The school is named for a famous Navy hero by the name of Commodore Stephen Decatur Jr born in Sinepuxent Maryland. It would be great to keep this as a Navy Program School, so I am not sure about "enlisting" another branch. We appreciate everyones support. Thanks! Virginia
I have it on VERY good authority that Del. Mike McDermott is now involved in saving this program. Look for further information about his efforts in the near future.
Craig Theobald
Ironshire
Why did it take the Navy's threat of cancellation to push the recruiting campaign forward? If this program meant that much to SD and its students, it would have already been a priority. Now it may be too little, too late.
I'm not sure what Mr. McDermott can do to save this program. It is funded by the US Navy and Department of Defense (I believe), not by the State of Maryland.
I hope, for the students that are enrolled, that the Navy reconsiders. If they are intent on canceling it, it would at least be beneficial to those already enrolled that the unit remain in effect until the current students graduate. If that's the case, don't allow new enrollments, just complete the program for the students currently in.
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