In a special presentation, Jacksonville High School's JROTC instructors reported that the unit exceeded standards on its recent assessment and highlighted large-scale community-service work and individual cadet awards.

The instructor speaking to the board said the unit's December inspection resulted in an exceeds standards rating; the program is in line to receive a Distinguished Unit award with merit and the speaker said the district should hear confirmation in April through June. The presenter said this would be the program's third consecutive year exceeding standards and its seventh distinguished-unit recognition overall.

Nut graf: The JROTC presentation emphasized the cadets' community-service contributions, leadership development and extracurricular achievements as part of the high-school program.

Community service and cadet activities

The JROTC presenter reported the unit had logged about 3,145 hours of community service and said 49 cadets recently volunteered at the Arkansas Food Bank, preparing about 22,000 pounds of food including approximately 18,500 pounds of food kits and bagging 4,000 pounds of sweet potatoes. The group also reinstated an honor society and held literacy outreach at Bayou Meto (reading to pre-K through third grade). The program listed upcoming activities including a blood drive and academic-bowl competition; the instructors requested assistance covering the roughly $200 per-cadet fee for summer cadet leadership school for those selected.

Several cadets were recognized during the presentation; the instructor said Cadet Bryant, Cadet Carter and Cadet Stanislaus were present and had received top-cadet awards.

Board response and next steps

Board members thanked the instructors and cadets. The presenters said they will notify the board of confirmed Distinguished Unit recognition when official notice arrives and will pursue funding sources for cadet leadership opportunities.