Students in the three high schools in District 186 now have the opportunity to join JROTC – Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. Superintendent Jennifer Gill says it’s a “great opportunity for students that might be interested in the military in the future or planning to go to college and join an ROTC program.”  Gill adds that it’s also for somebody who just wants a great “not only physical, but structured leadership type program where they can really succeed in school.”

Chief Anthony Jellison heads up the program at Lanphier High School and says, “It will incorporate more discipline within the students, and it’ll bring all three high schools together like one big family.” First Sergeant Timothy Collier, the JROTC program director at Southeast, says the program is not a recruiting arm for the U.S. Army, but instead the program’s “sole mission is to build good citizens and instill the attributes and competencies of leadership in the kids which will serve them well when they go on the pursue future careers.”

Interested students should see their assistant principal for more information.  Gill says the program was made possible through bipartisan support of Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and other lawmakers who helped push Congress to create more openings for JROTC programs.