Deployment In Schools

Deployment In Schools

By senior correspondent Devon Maloney      
A select group of students have signed up for the opportunity to serve in the nation’s armed forces. President Barack Obama recently announced his plan to deploy 30,000 American troops to Afghanistan. For thousands of American families, including some that are part of the Marshall community, this means a loved one will be sent to war.

While some students are involved in the military through their parents deployment or jobs, other students have chosen a career in the armed forces themselves. Senior Joe G. is going to college on an Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship for the Air Force.


ROTC offers students who plan on joining the military a chance to get a higher education. The branch of the military they plan to join will pay for education with an agreement that the student will serve a set number of years.


“I’m planning to do a year or two of college on ROTC and then apply to the Air Force Academy,” Joe said. Joe hopes to become a test pilot for the Air Force as soon as his tour of duty is finished. “I will get to play with all sorts of new toys, which I think is a pretty cool job,” he said.


To prepare for the military, Joe is currently enrolled in an Air Force Junior ROTC academy class offered at Chantilly High School. Seniors Jackson L and Jun K are also enrolled in the course. According to the official web site, the goal of the Junior ROTC is to provide “a quality citizenship, character, and leadership development program, while fostering partnerships with communities and educational institutions,” preparing students for ROTC.


“Serving in the armed service is the best way to serve your country,” Joe said. “I can’t [imagine] not going into the military.”  Taking a lesson from his father, who is on active duty with the Air Force, Joe said that he “just loves America and will serve it to the best of his abilities.”


Even for those who are not going to go into the military, all eighteen-year-old males are presented with the possibility of being called to serve. Senior CJ B has signed up for the Selective Service. In other words, he is eligible to serve if there is another draft.


“I’m happy to do my part to keep the country safe,” CJ said. “It’s my patriotic duty to sign up for the draft.”