Local News - August 2003

West gets first taste of ROTC

By SARAH GRANO, LTN Staff Writer

The instructors of West Lincoln High’s new Navy Junior ROTC program finally got to meet their students when school started last week. The program is the first of its kind in Lincoln County Schools.

“I’m extremely impressed with the kids they have here,” said retired Coast Guard Chief Bill Shipley, who teaches ROTC along with retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Karl Jordan. “It goes way beyond what I expected.”

Most students reacted well to Shipley’s strict teaching style. Some admitted to feeling intimidated by their “tough” new teacher, but most thought he was “cool.”

“He shows us respect; we show him respect,” said Garrett Gilbert, an ROTC student. “We’re getting along really well. It’s going great.”

The number of students enrolled in the program grew during the first few days of school due partly to word of mouth. One class of 17 students grew to 28 by the second day of school, said Jordan.

Students learned quickly that an ROTC class differs from their usual classes. Adults must be addressed as “sir” or “ma’am.”

If students want to go to the bathroom they have to ask to go to the “head,” just like someone would ask on a military ship. Students also have to wear uniforms to class every day and for the entire school day on Wednesdays.

“I told them to go ahead and give me mine,” Gilbert said. “I’ll wear it the first Monday we come back. I’m ready for them.”

Uniforms have to be kept neat, and the students’ shoes must be shined. If boys have long hair, they have to cut it. If they have sideburns, they have to shave them.

Shipley and Jordan emphasize respect and leadership in their classroom. Shipley told his students that he didn’t want to hear any excuses. If students do misbehave, they can expect to deal with the consequences.

“They won’t send us to the office,” said Pamela Polo, an ROTC student. “They’ll deal with us separately. They’ll make us do push ups. That’s worse.”

No one has had to do push-ups yet, but it’s coming, Shipley said.

Most of the students who have enrolled in the program are interested in joining the military. Some want to follow in their siblings’ footsteps; others plan to be their family’s first member in uniform.

Not everyone is taking the class as a way to train for the military. Some think it looks good on a college application, and one student said she joined the class because she needed the discipline.

There are lots of jobs that have yet to be assigned to students, such as a supply officer and operations officer. Each class will have a class leader, and there will also be a unit leader for the entire program.

Jordan says that the student chosen won’t necessarily be one who begged for the job.

Instead they may pick a quiet student who shows leadership skills through their writing and ability to respond well to directions.

“Sometimes the person who’s always jumping up isn’t the person you want because sometimes it’s a power thing,” Jordan said.

Upperclassmen do not necessarily have a better chance of becoming leaders within the ROTC program, Jordan said.

“They’re all starting from the same point. A freshman could be the unit commander,” said Jordan.

Many ROTC students are looking forward to the drill team and the color guard. West Lincoln’s ROTC program will have its first competition with other schools in September.

 Shipley said there’s no reason they can’t win.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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