Decades ago, there were far more Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs and occupational trade courses in secondary schools.
However, too many of these programs were eliminated in favor of adding more technology courses. I have nothing against tech subjects, but they don’t offer enough variety for students who might not want to attend university or prepare for high-tech fields.
Implementing ROTC programs into more high schools in California and other states could have a beneficial effect for society and for the students who enter these programs. They offer discipline and structure into a teenager’s life, as well as a commitment to a cause larger than themselves as they build character, learn to work as a team, and pull their own weight.
These programs can also instill a love for country and a desire for selfless service. After high school, some of these students would go on to more advanced ROTC programs in college, or they might go directly into the active or reserve armed forces of the United States. The benefits, incentives, and salaries have been improving in recent years.
The high school component would give students an edge over other graduates who enter the military without prior ROTC training. Indeed, many new recruits who lack discipline or a solid work ethic have difficulty adjusting to a military lifestyle. […]
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