From the Halls of Montezuma to the halls of Goochland High!

Goochland Bulldogs need to come to the aid of our Marine Junior ROTC Bulldogs.

Since its inception a few years ago, the Marine Junior ROTC (MJROTC) program at Goochland High School has been a rousing success. The program met and exceeded establishment requirements in its first year, quite a feat for a small high school.       

Established in 2014 under the National Defense Cadet Corps (NDCC)authority, it was understood that if the Goochland program met certain criteria, it would become a fully-funded JROTC program. Goochland met, and exceeded those benchmarks, which included maintaining an enrollment of more than ten percent of the student body. To date, participation in our program has ranged between 12 and 14 percent.

Lessons learned in this program, in addition to the military stuff, like leadership, teamwork, personal responsibility, and discipline, prepare the cadets to succeed in military service, and will stand them in good stead wherever life’s journey takes them. Leading by example, Goochland MCJROTC cadets have changed the attitude of the entire student body.

In its short existence, the Goochland MCJROTC program, and its ripple effect on the entire student body,  has earned a reputation for excellence among military recruiters who actively pursue not only cadets, and other students.

Goochland MCJROTC color guard in action.

Goochland county enthusiastically supported the program, investing $750,000 in a building and fully funding salaries for its faculty. American Legion Post 215 was instrumental in securing the program for GHS.

In November, 2017, Lt. Col. Kevin Williams and Staff Sergeant Daniel Strong, leader of the MCJROTC,  received notice that the Marine Corps funding for the NDCC has ceased. This loss of funding—the cost of travel, training, equipment, and supplies—will cause an approximately $45,000  shortfall for the Goochland MCJROTC.

Our MJROTC program not only prepares students for military service—qualified volunteers are becoming harder to find—but teaches them leadership, personal responsibility, discipline, and teamwork. These skills will stand them in good stead no matter where life’s journey takes them.

Many MCJROTC cadets are encouraged by instructors to pursue higher education. They also help highly qualified candidates seek scholarships. Since its inception,  95 percent of MCJROTC cadets indicated their intent to continue their education, securing $162,000 in scholarship funds, and 84 academic awards.

In the short time that the Goochland MJROTC has been in existence, it has provided valuable assistance to community organizations, including the Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services, and Goochland Christmas Mother. Its color guard proudly presents the Stars and Stripes, demonstrating  proper respect for our flag.

The rigor of the program is demonstrated by the accolades won by our cadets in various ROTC competitions, especially being recognized as outstanding on its first Marine Corps inspection.

We need to let those who represent us in Washington about the high quality of this program, its importance to the community. To continue financial support that the MCJROTC has gotten from the Marine Corps, our representatives in Washington must take action on our behalf.

There are two ways to do this. The best choice is to change the status of the Goochland program to that of a fully sanctioned junior ROTC program. There are two slots nationwide for this. If that cannot be done, lawmakers need to change the law to restore federal funding under the NDCC model.

Show your support for Goochland’s Marine Corps Bulldogs by contacting Senators Warner and Kaine and Congressman Brat to encourage restoration of full funding for the Goochland High School Marine Corps Cadet program.

Senator Tim Kaine
919 East Main Street, Suite 970
Richmond, VA 23219
804-771-2221
https://www.kaine.senate.gov/contact

Senator Mark Warner
919 East Main Street, Suite 630
Richmond, VA 23219
804-775-2314
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactPage

Congressman Dave Brat
4201 Dominion Boulevard, Suite 110
Glen Allen, VA 23060
804-747-4073
https://brat.house.gov/contact/

Additional information regarding the Goochland High School Marine Cadet Corps program can be found here: https://docs.google.com/a/glnd.k12.va.us/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=Z2xuZC5rMTIudmEudXN8c2ItYWdlbmRhc3xneDo0YjhiNTYyNWUwYzIyMTky