NEWS RELEASE

Release Date: July 14, 2009

Contact: Pete Smith, Director of Communications, at (601) 359-1336 or Michael Curry, JROTC Director, Office of Healthy Schools, (601) 359-1816

New director focuses on increasing participation in JROTC

Two school districts recently established new Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) units, bringing the total number of units in the state to 84.

Michael Curry - who joined the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) in January - is hoping to continue expanding the program in his new role as the state's first JROTC director. The duties and powers of the position are provided for under §37-3-95 of the Mississippi Code.

"I loved being in the classroom with my own cadets teaching them about the importance of self-discipline, responsibility and citizenship," said Curry, who also has more than 20 years experience as a U.S. Navy Officer. "This opportunity is a great way to use that first-hand experience to help other school districts establish and maintain JROTC programs."

Curry comes to MDE from Pearl High School in the Pearl School District, where he was the Navy JROTC director and teacher for more than a decade.

Currently, there are 84 programs in Mississippi with more than 8,000 participating students including 51 Army units, 18 Air Force, 12 Navy and three Marine Corps. Some Mississippi units have more than 300 cadets. In order for a unit to be healthy and active, Curry said there should be 100 cadets, or at least 10 percent of the school enrollment, and two instructors.

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Hank Bounds said expanding the program is key to helping keep Mississippi students "on the bus" to graduation. One of the Mississippi Board of Education's three bold goals is to reduce the dropout rate to 13 percent by 2013.

"Students are on a continual search for a group that they feel like they belong to, especially once they reach their teen years," Dr. Bounds said. "JROTC gives our boys and girls another community - a niche - to enrich their educational experience and help them stay excited about school."

JROTC, a program for students in 9th through 12th grade, consists of a curriculum that combines physical education and academics and counts as an elective credit toward graduation or a substitute for a physical education credit.

The military pays for most of the JROTC program, including curriculum materials, classroom equipment, uniforms and a part of the instructor's salary. Other benefits include summer leadership camps and scholarship opportunities. Although students who enroll in JROTC do not have to make any commitment to enlist in the service, those involved for three or more years and enlist after high school come in at a higher pay grade.

With his background as an officer in the Navy and as a teacher in the classroom, Curry is a perfect fit for the job, Office of Healthy Schools Director Shane McNeill said.

"With Michael Curry's experience and enthusiasm, I'm hopeful that we will be able to expand the program to offer more students opportunities to be fit, healthy and ready to succeed," he said.

Curry holds a bachelor degree in business from Jacksonville University. He holds a master of science in systems management from the University of Southern California and a master of arts in educational leadership from TUI University. He is also a graduate of the Naval War College.

Before serving as the JROTC program coordinator at Pearl High School, Curry was an Algebra and Special Education teacher in Louisiana.

Michael Curry, Mississippi's first statewide JROTC coordinator, joined the Mississippi Department of Education in January.