thedrifter
03-07-09, 07:01 AM
Published: March 07, 2009 05:24 am
JROTC looking to raise $20,000 to go to two competitions
By Andrea Holbrook
Staff Writer
Forty Gloucester High School students enrolled in the Marines Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps will be traveling to regional and national drill competitions this spring, and the cadets need to raise about $20,000 to make the trips.
Richard Muth, senior Marine instructor and leader of the Gloucester Junior ROTC program, said the teens, mostly freshmen and sophomores, are practicing hard, and working to raise the money for the trips. Muth estimates $20,000 should take the 40 teens to both contests.
"In Pennsylvania in April, its a regional drill meet," he said. "That will be lots of teams already qualified for the nationals, like us. That will be like a test to see where we are at."
The team will drive down after school April 3, compete Saturday, April 4, and return to Gloucester on Saturday night.
"In Florida in May is the Nationals — that's the most expensive trip, because the bus alone is $10,000," Muth said. The team will be on the road a day each way, and will compete three days in Daytona Beach before officer judges from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.
The Gloucester JROTC drill team won two championships last year, coming in second overall out of 56 teams. One of those wins was in the challenge division, which pushed Gloucester into the master's division, the highest division possible, for this year's competition.
Drill competitions test the student cadets' precision, discipline and attention to detail in a series of different marching formations.
"It will be a challenge, there are growing pains," because so many freshmen and sophomores are on the team, Muth said. "They're working very hard. We'll do we best we can."
The teens placed 10th in air rifle shooting competitions this year, not as well as Gloucester usually does, Muth said, but he attributes that showing to the team's youth, too.
To raise the money for the trips, the Junior ROTC program is raffling off 100 gallons of oil donated by Old Yankee Oil of Gloucester. Chances are $5 each, and are available by calling the high school and asking for the JROTC program or from any JROTC cadet.
Muth said the JROTC booster group was also discussing other fund-raising efforts, including a possible pasta dinner and the annual JROTC alumni dinner, likely to be held in early April.
Donations may be made by check payable to "GHS Marine JROTC" and sent to CWO-3 Richard Muth, care of Gloucester High School, Leslie O. Johnson Road, Gloucester, MA 01930.
Andrea Holbrook may be contacted at aholbrook@gloucestertimes.com.
Ellie
JROTC looking to raise $20,000 to go to two competitions
By Andrea Holbrook
Staff Writer
Forty Gloucester High School students enrolled in the Marines Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps will be traveling to regional and national drill competitions this spring, and the cadets need to raise about $20,000 to make the trips.
Richard Muth, senior Marine instructor and leader of the Gloucester Junior ROTC program, said the teens, mostly freshmen and sophomores, are practicing hard, and working to raise the money for the trips. Muth estimates $20,000 should take the 40 teens to both contests.
"In Pennsylvania in April, its a regional drill meet," he said. "That will be lots of teams already qualified for the nationals, like us. That will be like a test to see where we are at."
The team will drive down after school April 3, compete Saturday, April 4, and return to Gloucester on Saturday night.
"In Florida in May is the Nationals — that's the most expensive trip, because the bus alone is $10,000," Muth said. The team will be on the road a day each way, and will compete three days in Daytona Beach before officer judges from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.
The Gloucester JROTC drill team won two championships last year, coming in second overall out of 56 teams. One of those wins was in the challenge division, which pushed Gloucester into the master's division, the highest division possible, for this year's competition.
Drill competitions test the student cadets' precision, discipline and attention to detail in a series of different marching formations.
"It will be a challenge, there are growing pains," because so many freshmen and sophomores are on the team, Muth said. "They're working very hard. We'll do we best we can."
The teens placed 10th in air rifle shooting competitions this year, not as well as Gloucester usually does, Muth said, but he attributes that showing to the team's youth, too.
To raise the money for the trips, the Junior ROTC program is raffling off 100 gallons of oil donated by Old Yankee Oil of Gloucester. Chances are $5 each, and are available by calling the high school and asking for the JROTC program or from any JROTC cadet.
Muth said the JROTC booster group was also discussing other fund-raising efforts, including a possible pasta dinner and the annual JROTC alumni dinner, likely to be held in early April.
Donations may be made by check payable to "GHS Marine JROTC" and sent to CWO-3 Richard Muth, care of Gloucester High School, Leslie O. Johnson Road, Gloucester, MA 01930.
Andrea Holbrook may be contacted at aholbrook@gloucestertimes.com.
Ellie