JROTC
The JROTC class is not what everyone thinks it is, most people think it's all about the military and getting people ready for it. Truthfully it's just a leadership class that will teach you the life skills that no other class teaches. For example, you learn how to relate to other people using something called winning colors as well as learning how to balance checkbooks and write checks. We base it off army values and use some methods that the army recommends because we are government sponsored.
On the topic of government sponsorship, this is also the reason the students must wear the uniform every Wednesday. Yes, this uniform is a standard issue army uniform but it is not as bad as most people think/make it seem. It's basically like wearing a suit except you get a nametag and awards you are able to wear on the right side of the shirt. We expect the cadets to wear this uniform every Wednesday for a grade, 100 points, and they are inspected. 98% of cadets get A's on this inspection as long as they keep the uniform on all day.
Not only is this a leadership class but we also offer after school activities, 4 to be exact, and you get to raise and lower the flags in front of the school if you want to earn 3 service hours a week. The four teams we offer are raiders, drill, color guard, and marksmanship.
In raider's, cadets will do a lot of physical exercises including push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and the mile run. Along with that we also do rope bridge, which is creating a harness and bridge using only rope and traversing (going across) the rope to the other side where they are taken off by another cadet then the rope bridge is broken down and all this is best time wins, and orienteering, in which we teach each cadet how to use a map and compass to find his/her way around.
In Drill, we teach the cadets how to march in squads (6-8people) and platoons (4 squads). This might not sound like much fun but it is actually a lot of fun. Not only is this fun but it teaches the cadets team work and how to follow directions. Color guard is a smaller part of drill that you train separately for. The color guard is a squad made up of four people (2 guardsmen and 2 flagmen) who present the American and state flag at different events including sports games and city events.
Lastly, is marksmanship. This is a team where the cadets get to shoot air rifles at targets. This teaches them concentration and how to stay still for extended periods of time. Of course before letting them get out there and shoot they must learn the safety procedures and score 100% on a test at the end of the course. If they do not pass this test then the cadet must retake the entire course and retry the test at the end.
Accomplishments of 2011-2012 School Year
This year the Marjory Stoneman Douglas JROTC has achieved many goals worth recognition. This year we have recieved an overall score of 591 points out of 600 points on our Army Formal Inspection. This is a 98.5% and this is also the highest grade in Broward County. On the inspection grading sheets, The Battalion Staff recieved a 100% (40/40), a 99% on the Staff Briefing, 48/50 for the AFI Drill Routine, and a 38/40 for the AFI Color Guard. Also, at Drill Counties, Male Unarmed Squad placed first and will be going to states. The squad will be commanded by C/CSM Hickman. In addition to these achievements, the MSD JROTC has supported the community by participating in the Holiday Parade and the County-wide Book Drive. This is our first time attempting the Book Drive and we are one of the top fundraisers. Finally, we have raised a record amount of money for our Booster Club.