Congressman pledges support for JROTC programs

A Nash County school board member on Thursday gained a new ally in Washington in his efforts to bring Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs back to all of Nash County’s high schools.

U.S. Rep. Don Davis, D-1st District, made stops Thursday at Tar River Academy, Rocky Mount High School and Nash-Rocky Mount Early College before meeting with members of the N.C. Association of Education.

While at Nash-Rocky Mount Early College, Davis’ first order of business was a discussion with officials from Nash Community College and Nash County Public Schools about what he could do to further education in the First District.

Among those present was Nash County Board of Education member Bill Sharpe, who briefed the congressman on the school district’s struggles to find qualified military instructors for its JROTC programs.

Sharpe told Davis that Southern Nash High School has been without a JROTC program for more than a year and how Northern Nash High School’s program has been without a commanding officer since March 2022 and is being threatened with closure.

“One of the most crucial things in our district is JROTC because of the values it teaches,” Sharpe told Davis.

Although the National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law in December and supported by other North Carolina lawmakers in Congress, has eased the minimum requirements for ex-military personnel seeking jobs as JROTC instructors, Sharpe said more needs to be done to fill those faculty vacancies.

Davis, who was sworn into office in January, agreed and said as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he was in a position to help. The former Air Force officer told Sharpe that he also is an advocate for JROTC, adding his military career began in high school.

“I got my start in JROTC. I understand its value,” Davis said. “It’s not about recruiting for the military. This is about citizenship, teaching students to be good citizens. It’s an amazing effort that we need to continue to support.”

Davis also visited three classrooms and talked to students. He told them that although the state’s recent economic development efforts have attracted new residents to the state seeking opportunities, 17 of 19 counties in his congressional district have lost population.

He told the students he initiated his current tour of schools in the district to learn what he can do to address areas of need and to promote the First District as a great place to live, get an education, work and raise a family.

Acknowledging that the students enrolled at the early college have achieved a high level of academic success before high school, Davis asked students what factors motivated them to achieve success.

Freshman Devin Mercer credited his mother for pushing him to do his best in school and for celebrating his success. Others were encouraged by the success of their fellow students in the school.

The majority of the students responding to the congressman’s question cited teachers as being the most influential people in motivating them to achieve academic success. One sophomore cited fear of being left behind on the road to success as her motivation to do her best.