My unit and a few others from around our area are judging a JROTC drill meet next Saturday, and I'm a bit nervous. At the VUIDM ROTC drill meet, there were a few JROTC units, and after almost a year away, I couldn't believe how angry they made me.

Don't get me wrong, it's a good program. It brings discipline and order to people's lives when they otherwise wouldn't have had it. However:

1.) MCJROTC should not wear the eagle, globe, and anchor, nor should they be allowed to wear Dress Blue Alphas. I understand that it's USMC-approved, but I had to restrain a MECEP Corporal in my unit at Villanova from chewing out a couple of the MCJROTC cadets who got a little big in their britches. Literally as well as figuratively. Seriously, what happened to height-weight standards? You're representing the service even though you're not actually a member.

2.) Your ribbons don't mean anything, don't walk past my Gunnery Sergeant talking about how you have more awards than he does. Again I'm sure I was the same way, but now I know there needs to be a little more respect for actual members of the military. (Footnote: he's retiring next year and going to be an instructor for a unit in Chicago. God I wish I could see that...)

I love you guys, but some of the things we did/do are absolutely infuriating.

You'll get stuff like this with all cadet organizations. Some senior cadets who think that they're high and mighty because they're up there in the ranks. I've seen some cadet CWO's (highest rank in the Canadian Forces NCM Corps, and therefore, the Cadet organization) try to chew out a Private in the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve. Needless to say, it did not end well for the CWO's.

Here in Canada, most Army Cadet units are affiliated with a certain Reg Force or Reserve Army unit, depending on which happens to be in the immediate area, which means that they also wear the cap badge of that unit. Therefore, you'll get a lot of 14 year old kids running around with an Infantry cap badge, thinking that they're actual soldiers, and trying to intimidate actual Infanteers. Personally, I'm with you with the 'eagle, globe, and anchor' thing...no cadet should be entitled to wear the badge until they have proven themselves worthy of it.

Im with you, that's something that should be earned.

Originally Posted by NCdt Steliga

I've seen some cadet CWO's (highest rank in the Canadian Forces NCM Corps, and therefore, the Cadet organization) try to chew out a Private in the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve. Needless to say, it did not end well for the CWO's.

I've seen that done, except a Marine JROTC cadet Major tried to chew out a (real) Marine LCpl. That ended well...Lance Coolies think they run the Corps (and they basically do...)

In all militaries, it's the NCMs (Enlisted personnel for the non-Canadians) that actually make things work. Officers are there to sign the paperwork and lead the troops.

A c/Maj tried to jack up a LCpl...ouch. Somebody let that 'Officer' title get to their head.

Originally Posted by NCdt Steliga

In all militaries, it's the NCMs (Enlisted personnel for the non-Canadians) that actually make things work. Officers are there to sign the paperwork and lead the troops.

A c/Maj tried to jack up a LCpl...ouch. Somebody let that 'Officer' title get to their head.

That's how it is everywhere - NCOs do the officers' jobs; (in the Marines) the LCpls do the NCOs' jobs. One of our mids is a former LCpl; most squared away Marine I've met aside from our Gunny (who's earned a lot more of my respect than most of our officers).

especially with rotc, these people get a little power and boom, their gone.

When I was in highschool we had a choice of either going to gym and getting yelled at by a very overweight coach who didnt do anything him self but sit on his arse, or could go to the Marine Corps JROTC. I had alot of fun there. Specially pissing off the Gunney, it was a huge joke. I didnt shine my boots good enough you see? So my squad didnt like me. So we scored low. The students with a higher rank use to try to chew me out, then I'd just respond with this "You know who I hang with outside of this classroom, now do you really think if you said this outside of here you would get away with all your teeth? Braces or not?" that would shut them up. Then I use to have fun with our somehow shell shocked Gunney, when I use respond to HER when she was chewing me out as so "YES PINEAPPLE SERGEANT SIR!" that infuriated her and I would receive a few day suspension as a result. Do away with JROTC, keep ROTC for college in my opinion.

Did someone make you join JROTC, or did you piss off a Gunnery Sergeant (use the full title, you haven't earned the right to say Gunny unless they tell you that you have) just for the fun of it?

If I had the option, I would be in JROTC, and I would take it to the fullest..meaning trying my best and not pissing off the instructors. Its a privilege, not a right, you shouldn't abuse it.