1st Sgt. Ashley Simmons inspects A Company, Eisenhower High School JROTC in Lawton, Okla., with Platoon Sgt. Sonia Ward. Inspections include uniform, grooming, brass, ribbon placement, shoes, and questions from the general information sheet. Because ...

FORT SILL, Okla., May 12, 2016 -- "If you have passion, compassion, and want to give back to your community, these kids are sponges," said Col. James Taylor, Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) program senior instructor.

"These kids" are the 100 or so Eisenhower High School students who wear the JROTC uniform three days a week. And the "you" would be any retired military veteran who wants to share knowledge of military protocol, discipline, and skills with young people eager to learn and be part of something bigger than themselves.

Taylor, a retired Army colonel, wants it known the program doesn't exist primarily to train future military enlistees, but to provide skills that will be of use to student-cadets all their lives.

"Our mission is not to make Soldiers, but to motivate young people to become better citizens," he emphasized. "I don't care if they're a bus driver, if they're a dog catcher, a nurse, or work in Wal-Mart. As long as they're responsible citizens in the United States, I've accomplished my mission. Citizenship is all about owning up to your responsibility of being an upstanding citizen, paying taxes, contributing to the American Dream. So if you can't join the Army, I'm still in your corner."

He said some of the cadets have medical or other issues that would keep them out of the Army, but in JROTC they get to experience the discipline and high expectations for one day a week. JROTC is considered an elective, and if students remain in for at least three years it can help them when they go to college or join the military.

They could enlist in the Army as an E2 rather than an E1, and would likely be made a squad leader, said Taylor. They can also qualify for a 3-year ROTC college scholarship. One Eisenhower cadet is going to West Point, following in his JROTC brother's footsteps.

JROTC is a cadet-led program, with a student commanding officer, and a senior-year battalion commander with the rank of Colonel. Cadets earn their way up the ranks, and wear military style uniforms, but they are civilians with no obligation to military service. About 20 percent of the school's seniors who are enrolled in JROTC choose military service after high school, he said.

According to UsArmyJROTC.com, there are 1,731 high schools with 314,000 cadets enrolled in the program across the country, as well as American Samoa, Korea, Germany, and other overseas locations. They are cost-sharing partnerships between the schools and whatever branch of the military sponsors them. Because of Fort Sill, Lawton's JROTC programs are Army sponsored.

Eisenhower's program has been in place since 1968, and many of the cadets come through word of mouth. Their drill team visits elementary and middle schools whose students will likely come to Eisenhower, to show them the possibilities of JROTC membership.

The cadets also perform community service, including helping to raise nearly $2,000 in food donations through Country Mart to feed the homeless.

"They learned how hunger affects students," said Taylor, "as well as a lot of students here at Eisenhower High School that may go home hungry."

He said JROTC is the largest club in the whole school. "It's bigger than the band, bigger than the football team, the pep squad. The program is so grounded that I have teachers from other classes calling me (when they have a problem with a student). I go and set them straight and tell them you're not representing our program well." He reiterates the unit crest motto: "Pride is Ike's Tradition."

Taylor retired from Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio in 2002. As region plans officer, he was in charge of military assistance to civilian authorities, and he helped coordinate the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City.

The JROTC Leadership Camp will be at Fort Sill June 6-10, sponsored this year by 1st Battalion, 19th Field Artillery basic combat training units. It will host around 200 students from around the state. In addition to putting their leadership skills to work with people they've never met before, they will "conquer their fears" at Treadwell Tower, said Taylor.

Taylor encouraged any military retiree to consider being a JROTC instructor. "It's an excellent way to stay engaged with your country," he said. "It keeps you young and vigorous."

If interested, call Col. James Taylor at Eisenhower High School, 580-355-9144 extension 305.