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Center Grove JROTC reports first-year enrollment, seeks Raiders course and pool access
Summary
A presenter for Center Grove's new JROTC program told the school board the unit finished year one with 37 cadets, has 84 enrolled for next year, and asked the board to consider an on-campus Raiders obstacle course and daytime pool access to support program growth.
The JROTC instructor told the Center Grove Community School Corp. board that the newly launched JROTC program completed its first year with 37 cadets and has enrolled 84 students for next year, including 64 in the first-year cohort.
The instructor said the program had 61 unique names on activity rosters during the year, reported 48 as the official Army enrollment when the Army requested numbers and noted the cohort completed the year with 37 remaining. “We had 61 unique names on that list… the official count when the army asked for the numbers… ended up being 48,” the instructor said. “We graduated or completed the first year with 37 remaining.”
The instructor told the board the program participated in competitive and community events, including a national-level JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl, a cadet challenge that drew 12 schools to Center Grove, two service-learning projects (a Best Buddies Thanksgiving dinner and a Red Cross blood drive that gathered about 52 pints), color guard appearances at athletic events, and a military ball with Indianapolis Public Schools. He noted the academic team — composed entirely of freshmen — and the leadership team both advanced past the first rounds of the national competition.
Looking ahead, the instructor said the Army expects a minimum enrollment of 100 cadets once fully staffed (two instructors is the current baseline) but allows four years to reach that threshold. He described additional growth thresholds that would change staffing requirements: reaching 126 would cap growth under current staffing; 151 cadets would open the possibility of a third instructor (which would require school cost-sharing); and exceeding 250 would permit an additional instructor slot.
The instructor requested two facilities considerations from the corporation: (1) support to install a Raiders obstacle course on campus — “there is no school around here that has a fully built out obstacle course,” he said, and he estimated “at least an acre” for a usable course — and (2) daytime access to an indoor pool so cadets can build competencies that other programs with pool access already have. He said the program also intends to pursue the Army’s cyber pilot program to offer AP cyber coursework tied to Army curriculum.
Board members asked clarifying questions about land needs and Camp Atterbury resources; the instructor said Camp Atterbury has facilities but scheduling and annual training requirements mean the program would need to plan well in advance. Board members expressed general support and appreciation for the presentation and said requests would be considered when funds and schedules permit.
The instructor also reported donations and equipment supplied by the Army and external grants — including a National Rifle Association grant that funded the program’s air rifle team — and said the program conducted summer leadership trips and ongoing weekday morning workouts to prepare cadets for next year.
Board response was limited to questions and expressions of support; no formal action or vote was taken on the Raiders course or pool-use requests. The instructor asked the board to indicate their interest over time so program planning can align with the corporation’s decisions.
