Written By Major John Johnston
For Forty years Portage High School has been home to a Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (MCJROTC). Forty years!!! The 14th oldest unit in the United States has weathered some storms over the four decades of its existence. Somehow it’s managed to survive through the ups and downs of the public’s impression of the military. Ebbing in existence following the Vietnam War, the program has experienced a resurgence of popularity since 9/11. That may say something about our ingrained patriotism as a community.
At its lowest point in the 1980’s enrollment had fallen to 42 students and the program was in serious trouble with a threat to its demise based on lack of support. Currently the program seats over 250 students per day. That has been about the average enrollment for the last several years. As the city of Portage grows in population and prestige, as a magnet for business, and as a place to raise a family, having a character development program “of note,” such as the Portage High School MCJROTC, only adds to the city’s attractiveness.
In 2008 the Portage High School MCJROTC was named the top program in over sixteen mid-west states and one of the top four nationally. As such, the school was awarded the prestigious Marine Corps Retired Officers Association Award for the first time. Considering that over 230 MCJROTC programs are spread throughout the United States, this was quite a distinction. Perennially the program is named in the top twenty percent nationally. And most recently Portage High School was designated by the United States Marine Corps Training and Education Command as a “Naval Honor School” for 2010 based on the MCJROTC’s accomplishments during the past school year.
For those who are unaware of the MCJROTCs’ purpose it is simply to train students to become well informed and involved members of the community. The program’s focus is on leadership, personal responsibility, citizenship, self-discipline and accomplishment. I was once told-tongue- in-cheek that ROTC stood for “Recruiting Our Teenage Children.” Although a common perception, joining the group is not tantamount to enlisting in the military upon graduation. In fact, very few that enroll ever enlist. Those that do are simply better prepared for that vocation. A number of students who have joined the military have gone on and served with distinction, to include one who commanded a United States Naval guided missile cruiser.
Service to one’s community is a requirement for promotion from the first day a student enters the MCJROTC classroom. An average of 7500 to 12000 hours of community service is given to the city of Portage and surrounding communities each year. Community service runs the gamut from building playground equipment, cleaning out flooded homes, providing parking at community events, assisting in mock disaster drills, to collecting food and money for donation to the local food pantry. Seeing well-groomed and mannerly Portage MCJROTC students in their green camouflage uniforms around town is a common sight at many community functions.
At Portage MCJROTC students learn that getting a pat on the back is not necessary to feel good about oneself. Instead, self- esteem naturally comes through the actions of helping others, being dependable and acting responsibly. In MCJROTC students learn that talk is cheap but action speaks for itself. A common refrain in the Portage MCJROTC is don’t “talk the walk….walk the talk.” Whether it is as a student in another academic class, performing on a sports team, or helping the needy… do you your best. Now that’s a credo to aspire to! That is exactly what MCJROTC at Portage High School is about.