2. Mike Curry JROTC Director MS Department of Education Office of Healthy Schools Implementation of Mississippi Code § 37-3-95 House Education Committee Briefing 3 March 2010

3. Personal Background Retired Navy Commander Taught Algebra II one year and Special Education one year NJROTC Instructor 10 ½ years Licensed for JROTC, Math, Business, Economics, and School Administrator

4. Purpose of JROTC To instill in students of United States secondary educational institutions: the values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment.

5. Goals of JROTC Promote citizenship Develop leadership and critical/creative thinking Teach to communicate effectively Improve physical fitness Provide incentive to live drug-free Strengthen positive self-motivation Provide global awareness and military perspective Train to work as a team member Inspire to graduate from high school, and continue education

6. JROTC Curriculum Physical activity / education Health First aid Life skills Leadership and character development Military history and traditions Government, Geography, and Science

7. JROTC Activities Military drill competitions Athletic competitions Marksmanship competitions Orienteering competitions Academic competitions Color Guard events and competitions Community Service Field trips

8. JROTC Outcomes Better attendance rate Higher graduation rate Less discipline infractions Lower drop out rate Higher grade point average

9. Mississippi JROTC Units Service Units Students Army 51 7,586 Air Force 18 2,277 Navy 12 1,557 Marine Corps 3 649 Total 84 12,069 (In addition, Piney Woods School also has an Army JROTC unit.)

10. Mississippi JROTC Climate JROTC highly valued / supported JROTC teacher license JROTC substitutes for physical education graduation requirement

11. Recent JROTC Successes Hattiesburg HS attended 2009 Presidential Inauguration in Washington, DC New units at Bay Springs, Clarksdale, Horn Lake, and West Harrison Callaway, Gulfport, McLaurin competed in the 2009 National JROTC Drill Championships Brandon, New Albany, Moss Point to compete at 2010 National Marksmanship Competition Summer training at Ft. Knox, Camp Shelby, NAS Meridian, Keesler AFB

12. JROTC Director Accomplishments Mississippi JROTC web site Advisory Committee Membership in MHSAA MSU & USM to host competitions JROTC Publicity Liaison with military services

13. JROTC Director Goals Additional JROTC units Minimize instructor vacancies Additional course substitution Improve data reporting

14. Contact Information Mike Curry Phone: (601) 359-1816 mcurry@mde.k12.ms.us www.healthyschoolsms.org/jrotc