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Marine Corps JROTC at Culpeper High reports growth to 125 cadets, reopens competitive teams and band
Summary
Major Murata Phillips told the Culpeper County School Board on May 12 that the Marine Corps JROTC program at Culpeper County High School has grown from about 70 cadets four years ago to 125 and now fields multiple competitive teams, a band and an all-female Raider team.
The Marine Corps Junior ROTC unit at Culpeper County High School has expanded significantly in recent years and is again meeting inspection standards, its instructor told the school board on May 12.
Major Murata Phillips, the program’s instructor, told the board the unit has grown from roughly 70 cadets four years ago to about 125 now and could reach around 150 within two to three years. He said the program recently “met the certifications” after a period without certification and highlighted a range of cadet activities that include drill, rifle, Raider obstacle-course teams, a band and community events.
Major Phillips said the program runs a structured weekly cycle of classroom instruction, physical training and inspections. He described mandatory annual events (for JROTC units nationally) such as physical fitness tests and inspections, and local events unique to the school — cadet orientation, Veterans Day, homecoming, parades and graduations. He told the board that most practice sessions end by 4 p.m. to align with the school day and family schedules.
Competitive and college outcomes: the instructor said the unit fields three competitive teams that compete regionally and, if qualifying, nationally. He noted the program has an all-female Raider team — a field-based obstacle competition that the instructor said is rare among Virginia JROTC units — and reported that 2024 senior cadets matriculated to a range of colleges and service programs, including multiple students to Virginia Military Institute (VMI), Virginia Tech and several service enlistments.
Community service and student leadership: Major Phillips said cadets complete community service (he cited a 30-hour community-service expectation for cadets) and that many program activities are student-run. He described the program’s goal as supporting school graduation and producing “good citizens” whether or not cadets pursue military careers.
Board response: board members praised the program’s growth, the return to certification and the leadership of Major Phillips and First Sergeant Stewart. One board member said, “Semper Fi,” and others commended the all-female Raider team’s performance at competitions.
Provenance: the instructional update and Q&A with Major Murata Phillips and First Sergeant Stewart are recorded in the May 12 meeting transcript and were presented during the instruction portion of the agenda.
