Jackson Jambalaya

Great place to give these kids discipline, direction, and goals. Because they sure as hell ain’t gonna get it from baby mama and absent baby daddy.

Students who exhibit initiative, hard work, and responsibility tend to be successful. I'm glad there are options like the JROTC to help them build character. You've also obviously got some good leaders in the JROTC program who are ensuring the participants live up to the high expectations.

Amazing what a little discipline and guidance can do for the life of a young person.

The JROTC programs are the last vestiges of real discipline in the Jackson Public High Schools. Once upon a time Jim Hill and Lanier were known statewide for their discipline and academic achievement. That was a lifetime ago and only a program like JROTC having it's own independent set of disciplinary standards is left to provide the structure so many of these young people desperately need. Thank you for recognizing it.

These are excellent programs, and undoubtably rescue some young inner city kids from the potential grasp of crime and long term poverty.

Good job.

We need a ROTC program in Covington County!

JROTC (and ROTC) are great programs, even in suburban high schools. In addition to the characteristics listed above, it gives young people - some loaners, some not able to make sports teams - the chance to be a part of something that makes a difference. I did over 30 years of military service, it was always about the camaraderie and being part of a bigger picture that motivated me.

It's a great program but requires parental support to succeed. I understand that it can be expensive, depending on your budget, to buy the uniforms, transport the kids to and from events, etc. I think it works because it gives kids a sense of pride in themselves.

All my boys were JROTC members at their HS and got a slight foot up when entering the service as enlisted. Not so hard to adjust right off as someone who is not used to discipline or teamwork goes through. Never had this when I was entering service.

This is very reassuring.

And while I doubt the JROTC, ROTC, and OCS Candidates still sing the military cadence tunes about
Ho Chi Minh, I hope they have substituted the name Osama bin Laden.

@1:38, it doesn't cost a dime for a student to participate in JROTC. My son was in JROTC at JPS. After graduating college, he joined the military and entered at a higher rank than nonparticpants of the JROTC program. There's always news of young men committing crimes, so I want to thank the auditor for bringing attention to these fine young men and women. I also want to thank
the the JROTC instructors who have served the country and is now serving our youths at JPS.

I was in JROTC and am all about it. But why is the State Auditor dabbling in this again? Are they under investigation? I guess we can expect Lynn Fitch to tell us about the benefits of roads and bridges next.

Both of my sons did JROTC in high school. It got them both scholarships to VMI. One is now a 1st LT with the 10th Mountain Division and the other will graduate/commission in May of next year. If your kid is not into athletics, encourage them to look into JROTC. The full ride my youngest got was worth about 250k .

"Students enrolled in the JROTC program at Jackson Public Schools (JPS) are also more likely to be accepted to college than other JPS students."

Can you give a number as to the JPS students who have been declined college enrollment? Of course you can't - there IS no such number.

Some states do not allow JROTC because it encourages military enlistment. It sort of follows that this program, then, is not among the favorites of Jackson's mayor.

Shad, Imma need you to focus here. There is deep, deep corruption in municipalities and counties. Please spend your staff's time and resources there and not on neat-o book reports. Signed, the Mississippi Public.

Great to hear good news about JPS. And contrary to public perception, lots of kids go thru JPS and do quite well. Some kids from JPS went to undergrad with me at Tougaloo, several are know dentist, doctors, and lawyers. Yes JPS has problems. And we constantly talk about those. Lets occasionally celebrate the good.