ROTC program builds leadership skills and creates a home for students

Story by Mia Colvin – Features Editor

 ROTC is a leadership and development-based course at LSN that prepares students for a future in the military and teaches transferable skills along the way. 

   Similar to the military, students participate in hands-on activities such as the mile run, volunteering and PT on Fridays, as opposed to a classic classroom setting. 

   Major Norton, who runs the program along-side Chief Gardner, said, “In our class they learn how to communicate effectively, work as part of a team, manage their time, and set meaningful goals.”

    Junior Allison Elliott joined the program last year and said, “Joining ROTC was one of the smartest things I have ever done, because it taught me so much.”

   One reason it is so easy for students in the program to meet new friends is, because ROTC is a commitment both in and out of school. 

   A good example of this is the Cadet Leadership Course (CLC) camp. ROTC students attend CLC at the beginning of every summer. The camp lasts about three to four days and allows the students to use the skills they learned in class to have fun with peers. 

   “We got to do stuff like obstacle courses, swimming, and on the last day we even had 2 black hawks take us on a ride around the campus which was really cool,” Elliott said. 

   While the program was originally designed for students interested in pursuing a military position, the class also includes content anyone can participate in. 

   “Whether they pursue military service or not, AFJROTC gives them a strong foundation for adulthood and every opportunity to be successful,” Norton said.

   The key to the welcoming classroom culture the program cultivates is trust from the students and their teachers. 

   “Everybody in there has your best interest at heart and Chief Gardner and Major Norton always make sure you know you have a home in the classroom,” Elliot said. 

   Inside or outside of the classroom students can always follow the ROTC creed to bring credit to their school and peer cadets through making a difference in the community.