COUNTERING MILITARY RECRUITMENT
Articles: Military Recruiting: JROTC/ROTC
Army Club Fills JROTC Void
Daveen Rae Kurutz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
January 26, 2006
When Clairton High School officials announced that the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps would be cut because of budget restraints, parents such as Vince Gori couldn't take no for an answer."These kids were crushed," he said. "Even parents were disappointed."
But those disappointed by the action found an ally in Staff Sgt. Charles Johnston, an Army recruiter based at the Army recruiting station in Century III Mall. He got an idea for a spinoff from a popular chat room devoted to helping those intimidated by recruiters find answers about the military.
At the same time, Clairton administrations, recognizing that more of their students participated in JROTC than sports, wanted to find a replacement program.
And so was born the Army Club. "It's still in its infantile stages, but we're getting off to a good start," Sgt. Johnston said.
So far, this is what has been determined: To be a member, students are required to have at least a 2.25 grade point average, and to do two community service projects a year. Aside from a few military regulations, such as ranking and uniforms, the rest will be up to the students.
"The kids are really running this," said Nathan Morabit, a Clairton teacher who is faculty adviser to the program. "They're trying to figure out ways to make this their club."
And that has the students excited. Melanie Gori, a senior, said, "This is what is so exciting [because] it's based on our own ideas."
And that has strong appeal for sophomore Trevor Miles. A former JROTC member, he wanted to get back into the activities, such as drill team events.
The group of about 30 students recently came up with a logo for the club: A diamond with a camouflage background, a bear in the center, signifying the school's mascot, and "Clairton Army Club" written on the diagonals.
The logo will appear on the organization's T-shirts, which will be a part of their uniforms.
"The Army teaches valuable lessons, like self-respect and morals, and the other good things in life," said member Darienne Dusi, a sophomore. "I hope to get similar things out of this group."
Other members, such as freshman Joseph East, are looking for fun and some military experience. The son of military parents, he is interested in enlisting and wanted to be involved with something similar to JROTC.
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