House Resolution 89

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSISSIPPI JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS PROGRAM AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, 2016 marks the centennial celebration of the National Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, which has served to motivate young men and women to become better citizens since its inception in 1916; and

WHEREAS, the United States Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps began in 1916, with the passage of the National Defense Act of 1916, authorizing high schools the use of federal military equipment and the assignment of active duty military personnel as instructors, the purpose of the junior reserve officers' training corps is to instill students in United States secondary institutions with the value of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi JROTC is led by Bureau Director Captain John Lewis DC, USN(Retired) who leads a cadre of excellent students, comprised of over 11,000 cadets in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi JROTC includes 51 Army JROTC units, 17 Air Force JROTC units, 11 Navy JROTC units and three Marine Corps JROTC units across the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, a core area of focus for JROTC is to cultivate a diverse workforce development pipeline in order to produce the next generation of leaders in all fields, especially science, technology, engineering and math industries, because looking towards the future, both the United States and the State of Mississippi benefit from a well-trained workforce; and

WHEREAS, partnering with Ben Minnifield of the LeMont Scott Group, Mississippi JROTC cadets gain exposure to science, technology, engineering and math based camps, with project based learning events, higher educational outreach efforts with the United States Military Academy at West Point and industry engagement and JROTC promotes workforce development to increase economic competitiveness in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in living out their mission, the Mississippi JROTC students have consistently outperformed national averages in high school attendance, grade point average, community service and graduation rates, evidence that its goal of making better citizens is being achieved even 100 years after its beginning; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend outstanding contributions to the education and maturation of young people in the United States and the State of Mississippi, such as the National JROTC and Mississippi JROTC, which have worked tirelessly to ensure the leaders of tomorrow are prepared to accept the challenges ahead:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of the State of Mississippi, That we do hereby commend the diligence and dedication of both the National and Mississippi JROTC programs, extending best wishes for continued success to both institutions and offer sincere congratulations to the National JROTC program on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Mississippi JROTC Bureau Director Captain John Lewis and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.