Colquitt County High School's Marine Corp Junior ROTC (MCJROTC) has been selected as a Naval Honor School by the Commanding General of the Marine Corps for the first time since the 2012-2013 school year. This honor recognizes the program's success during the 2023-2024 school year and was based on community service hours, cadet involvement in school activities, academic and scholarship awards, and team accomplishments. The nation's top 20% of programs are selected for the Naval Honor School Distinction.
As a Naval Honor School, the CCHS MCJROTC program, under Retired Lieutenant Colonel Jason Perdew's direction, can nominate candidates directly to the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and the Military Academy at West Point. Seniors in the program can receive recommendation letters from Perdew and Sergeant Major Keith Allen, which carry the same weight as those from state senators and congress members.
The MCJROTC program has seen a significant increase in participation over the past few school years. During the 2022-2023 school year, cadets increased by 13%, followed by a 15% increase in the 2023-2024 school year. Last school year, the cadets completed 260 hours of community service. The 2024 cadet graduates earned $91,596 in scholarship dollars.
The MCJROTC program has increased competition participation, allowing cadets to showcase their skills. This past year, they competed in the All-Service and Marine Corps Nationals and hosted the Region 2 Drill Meet. The program received funding to build an obstacle course around Packer Park and hosted its first-ever Raider Meet.
The cadets weren't just active during the school year. This past summer, 28 cadets attended 12 different campuses, and the MCJROTC program hosted the AFA CyberCamp for the third year. Two of the 2024 senior cadets are continuing their path of service after high school. Michael Marshall is attending Georgia Military College in the U.S. Service Academy prep program, and Justin Allen enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Students interested in joining the MCJROTC program should contact Lt. Col. Perdew or their counselor for more information. Currently, the program is for C.A. Gray Junior High School and Colquitt County High School students.