Perhaps you’ve seen them on campus, drilling after school with their rifles, out by the girl’s softball field. Or maybe you’ve seen them in class, in their snappy creased khaki uniforms, gold braids shining and patent leather shoes gleaming. Maybe you’ve witnessed the pageantry of a military color guard, presenting the flags at a school assembly.
These young men and women are members of Naval Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps, or NJROTC for short. They’ve been on campus for several years. We got a chance to interview two cadets, Daniel Rodriguez and Fernando Marquez, and they filled us in on all things military here on campus.
PEPPERBOUGH: What is NJROTC?
RODRIGUEZ It’s a class that you can take here at Colton High. NJROTC stands for Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and what we promote military conduct and discipline while at the same time, have fun as cadets. We do a lot of field trips and competitions.
PEPPERBOUGH: What do you do in the class? Is it book or physical work?
MARQUEZ: In a little bit of both. We learn about the history of the Navy. On Fridays we do PT (physical training) to make sure everyone’s fit and up to standards.
PEPPERBOUGH: Why are you in ROTC?
MARQUEZ: I’m in ROTC because I’ve had kind of a bad start and I want to get a better life out of it. I’m planning on joining the Marine Corps after high school, so I thought it’d be a great experience to get a head start.
RODRIGUEZ: My freshmen year, my sister was in it and she was the highest ranking one and I decided to join and stayed because I was having fun.
PEPPERBOUGH: On what days do you normally wear the uniforms?
RODRIGUEZ: We usually wear them on Wednesdays, but when there’s an event such as recruiting or a ceremony, we’ll wear it on that day.
PEPPERBOUGH: IS ROTC funded by the Navy or the school?
RODRIGUEZ: It is funded by the Navy.
PEPPERBOUGH: What are you doing after high school?
RODRIGUEZ: I’m joining the Marine Corps.
MARQUEZ: I’m enlisting in the Marine Corps as well.
PEPPERBOUGH: Why do you twirl rifles in ROTC?
RODRIGUEZ: That’s our Armed Exhibition Team. We participate with other schools with our exhibition teams and it’s not just armed, we have color guard and unarmed as well. We go to competitions to see which school’s the best.
PEPPERBOUGH: After joining NJROTC in high school, do you have to join the Navy?
RODRIGUEZ: No, you do not. It’s not a recruiting mechanism whatsoever.
PEPPERBOUGH: What are the pros and cons of ROTC?
MARQUEZ: Pro: You gain more self confidence and you become a better person
RODRIGUEZ: Con: People don’t usually like to wear a uniform on Wednesday, that can also be viewed as a pro because it is promoting pride in not only you but something bigger than yourself.
PEPPERBOUGH: How do you earn ribbons?
MARQUEZ: You participate in events such as in armed parades or doing community service. Really, every little thing that you do can earn you a new ribbon.
PEPPERBOUGH: Is it fun?
RODRIGUEZ: Most people think it’s not fun but it’s very fun.
PEPPERBOUGH: Can anyone join– what does it take to be in ROTC?
RODRIGUEZ: Anyone can join and it doesn’t take much to join, you get everything you need in it.
MARQUEZ: If you want to join, you will.
PEPPERBOUGH: If you join as a freshman, do you have to stay until you graduate, or can you leave whenever you want to?
RODRIGUEZ: You can leave at anytime that you want.
PEPPERBOUGH: Can you take ROTC instead of PE? Can you take both?
RODRIGUEZ: Well, you need two years of ROTC to count as a PE class, so freshmen year; our freshmen would have to take PE and ROTC and if they stay in it, sophomore year, they do not have to take PE.
