The Poplar Bluff High School Junior ROTC (JROTC) held a Guidon Ceremony to welcome new initiates Thursday in the PBHS gym.
Lt. Col. Scott Kulla, senior Army instructor at the school, presided over the ceremony.
“This ceremony really represents the beginning of their JROTC career so for the freshmen,” Kulla said, “cements the fact that cadets are joining a family whose values can carry them through their high school careers.”
The guidons and medals presented to cadets by their troop captains are an outward representation of unity, and recognition for completing the first few weeks of basic training in JROTC guidelines and procedures.
“They were given the flag as a representation of the group effort,” Kulla explained. “And the little medal [is] its own representation of their uniform. Others see that they’re part of this organization. It’s a huge thing ... for a lot of them. It’s the first time they’ve earned something that demonstrates their success.”
There are 142 JROTC members in PBHS, or a little under 10% of the total student body, according to Kulla. JRTOC graduates tend to have a higher rate of admission into colleges and trade schools. Many also join the military. Kulla stressed their representation of all.
“We have Marine Corps, we have active military, Army National Guard — all three of those are represented ... we don’t promote the Army, we’re promoting service, so whatever that looks like to them.”
Service is a large part of the JROTC ethos. Cadets learn good citizenship and exercise patriotism through supporting people and communities around them. The consistency JROTC provides helps students succeed in the high school career and beyond, and makes them part of something greater than themselves, according to Kulla.
“They’re citizens, they have a purpose. You know, they’re practicing that citizenship and patriotism towards others on a daily basis. And most of them like being here because it gives them a sense of higher purpose.” he said.