From the Chairman
I want to thank Cmdr. Chris Hamrick for appointing me as the ROTC/JSSP Chairman for the upcoming year. The summer has passed quickly, and the JROTC Districts in Florida are already preparing for the upcoming semester with training seminars and workshops for the fall season. Two of the largest programs in Florida are Broward County, which will have an orientation and workshop for all 31 JROTC Units, and Lee County, which has the largest program for the JSSP Marksmanship Program and is the State and National Championship Winner. There will be a workshop at Boyd Anderson HS for instructors and supporters and a Marksmanship Training Camp at Mariner HS for JSSP at the end of July. Again, I would like to stress the importance of getting acquainted with the schools each Post supports in your District. Please do not wait for the school instructors to contact the Post. Most times, they do not know the Legion Posts in the Area and who is supporting them. The Post Chairman/ Commander must reach out to the schools in August when the semester starts to build the relationship for supporting the program and get their schedules which move quickly throughout the year. The time to order the JROTC Medals for Military and Scholastic Excellence is before the end of the year before these items are on backlog. Also, please review the listing on the Department website to ensure you order the correct medals listed and displayed. They are specified by DOD and only the bronze medals are permitted to be worn for the high schools on the uniform. If the cadet is provided a Silver or a Gold Medal for High School, they are not allowed to display that medal on the uniform.
https://www.floridalegion.org/programs-services/junior-shooting-sports/about/
The Department of Florida had 3 members from the Mariner AJROTC Team who qualified for the match. The youngest member of the team, Elyssa Vasquez qualified in the top 8 Sporters to compete for the final match held on Saturday morning. The Final Shoot-off Match is the top 8 shooters for each category that have one shot each for a total of 10 shots for the First Place Winner and Runner Up for each category. The Awards Banquet is held Saturday evening for all the trophy, ribbons and Scholarship Awards. There were keynote speakers, buffet, and the Scholarship Awards for First Place for each category, $5,000 and Runner Up, $2,000.
Loretta Young
ROTC/JSSP Chair
jrotc@legionmail.org