The Marion County High School JROTC program recently received a rating of Honor Unit with Distinction on its formal inspection, which occurs every three years.
The inspection, conducted by Col. Matthew Ziglar, included a drill portion where cadets march in a specific pattern, a color guard presentation, and cadet interviews. Students are always tasked with putting together a continuous improvement briefing as well as an overview of their service project.
According to 1st Sergeant Philip Chatigny this is the fourth consecutive formal inspection in which the program received the highest possible rating.
“It’s always a good feeling because it shows that the kids put in the effort, they took it seriously,” Chatigny said. “They knew it would take them three years to try to get that rating back again if they lost it.”
Two cadets, 11th graders Levi Bowen and Jada Allen, also received coins of excellence based on their leadership preparing the program for the inspection.
For Allen, receiving the coin of excellence has been one of her greatest accomplishments as a student.
“It was an honor,” Allen said. “I think that was one of the biggest things in JROTC that I’ve ever received [...] it just made me feel better about myself.”
Allen also said that cadets in the program were extremely excited when they learned of the program’s rating.
“We were all so happy -- some of us almost cried,” she said.
Although the cadets prepared specifically for the inspection, Chatigny said that all aspects of the inspection are already built into the JROTC program.
As for the program’s next inspection in three years, Chatigny was confident the cadets will be prepared to maintain the top rating.
“The current freshman will be seniors and they’ll understand the process and what’s going on, so they’ll be able to train the other cadets over the next three years.”