Close to the small city of Rupert, WV, Western Greenbrier Center College has a Junior ROTC program that teaches college students the significance of service to others and caring for themselves. The WGMS program is one among many throughout the nation that has been influential in serving to form and develop generations of Individuals.
United States Military Brigadier Normal Maurice Barnett, who served because the Commanding Normal for the Military Cadet Command, was variety sufficient to report a video to be performed for the scholars and teacher at WGMS. Except for well-wishes, Barnett shared that the affect and affect of ROTC is one thing that he can professionally and personally validate as a result of it was a place to begin for his personal service.
“Now, serving 31 years within the Military has been nice, and it’s actually a testomony to Junior ROTC,” Barnett stated within the video. “I’m extraordinarily happy with you guys.”
What’s ROTC?
Reserve Officers’ Coaching Corps (ROTC) is a college-based program that trains college students to change into officers within the U.S. Navy. There are additionally ROTC and Junior ROTC applications in highschool and center colleges that supply college students an opportunity to be taught from army leaders whereas sustaining a pupil schedule. The highschool and center faculty variations have a construction that resembles the army however could possibly be seen extra as mentorship.
The Military, Navy, and Air Power have ROTC and JROTC applications that give college students a chance to not directly check the waters earlier than committing to coming into service for a brief or long-term profession. Many college students decide to affix whereas others determine to go in one other route. Barnett understands either side of the choice but additionally shared that even when college students determine to not pursue a army life, the rewards and advantages that come from ROTC or JROTC can serve them lengthy after they transfer on.
“Statistically, JROTC college students, a minimum of on the Military facet—I can’t communicate for Air Power, Navy, and the Marine Corps—have larger GPAs, larger attendance charges, and fewer self-discipline points. So, there are some residual issues that occur by way of Junior ROTC that I believe profit these younger individuals.”
His Personal Pupil Expertise Led To Serving
Barnett and his three sisters grew up in a single-parent family in Gary, Indiana. He stated his mom saved him in sports activities to maintain him out of hassle. Barnett took Junior ROTC as an adolescent and met Sergeant First Class Lewis Thomas, a Vietnam vet who Barnett stated took him underneath his wing.
“He actually impressed me to consider it. I wasn’t actually satisfied to pursue it,” Barnett defined. The ultimate nudge to enter service got here after his older sister joined the Marines.
“Seeing her transformation—emotionally and bodily—she went to Parris Island and simply got here again a special particular person. I stated, “I would like one thing like that.”
Barnett initially joined the Nationwide Guard as a junior in highschool and signed up for Senior ROTC throughout his sophomore yr in faculty after being talked into it by Main Lance Lashley. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than the wheels bought rolling shortly.
“I took his class, and the subsequent factor I knew, I used to be out at Fort Lewis, Washington, for superior camp.”
Barnett entered energetic obligation on New 12 months’s Day 1995. He initially needed to serve 4 years however discovered himself falling in love with service. His profession has taken him to Fort Drum, NY, the place he bought to be a battery commander and to West Level, the place he served as a P.E. teacher. He additionally bought his Masters in Kinesiology at Indiana College alongside the way in which. He moved on to Germany and was deployed to Afghanistan.
Barnett turned Commanding Normal of the U.S. Military Cadet Command in August 2024. He served in that place from Fort Knox, and his tenure has been a optimistic power for the 300,000-plus highschool cadets and workers. He concluded that he bought simply as a lot again in return.
“I take into consideration the affect you get to have on individuals’s lives on this career, the affect you will have, after which what you get again in return might be exponentially even larger by way of what they do for you.”
Introducing H2F to College students
The Military’s dedication to their troopers by way of the Holistic Well being & Health program (H2F) has been effectively documented prior to nowand Barnett spoke in favor of the 5 domains of readiness; Bodily, psychological, dietary, non secular, and sleep. H2F has already proven indicators of success the place it has been applied, and that’s why Barnett is happy to see H2F programs being launched into the JROTC applications. As of early 2026, solely 23 p.c of 17–24-year-old Individuals can be eligible to serve and not using a waiver. The aim is to alter that statistic, and implementing these programs could possibly be an answer, in accordance with Barnett.
“We’re going to have this the place each junior cadet will get some model of H2F. Perhaps they don’t get all 5 pillars, however the sooner we will begin speaking to them about sleep, diet, non secular wellness, and health, the higher off they are going to be.”
Recruitment is up throughout all branches, however to maintain that momentum going, the well being and wellness of America’s younger individuals have to be a precedence. Whether or not college students within the ROTC applications select to serve or not, many army leaders have gone on the report to say {that a} more healthy nation is a safer nation.
Understanding the potential that these H2F programs might have and the way it might affect the way forward for many college students of the nation, Barnett expressed each optimism and satisfaction on this improvement.
“That makes me proud to be part of that and take into consideration the lives that we’re altering.”
Barnett’s Subsequent Chapter Awaits
On the time Barnett spoke with Match to Serve, he was coming down the house stretch of his present position. As of March 2026, he’s set to transition from Fort Knox to a brand new position with the U.S. House Command.
“I’m going to a different project at Peterson House Power Base,” he introduced. “I’ll be the Director of the J-5 there for Plans and Coverage, so a little bit bit outdoors of my talent set. It’ll stretch me a little bit bit, I believe.”
Whereas he expressed a little bit uncertainty about what lies forward for him, he additionally shared {that a} mixture of his religion and expertise together with succesful individuals he can be working with might be property as he steps into this new place. Those self same attributes could possibly be traced again to his personal ROTC days, which is why he hopes to see the subsequent era of residents take into account it for their very own futures.
“By way of that JROTC expertise, I truly believed I might do something. And that’s sort of the intent, proper? To offer them these instruments that they should actually stretch themselves and change into all that they assume they wish to be at that time.”
To be taught extra concerning the Military ROTC program, go to their web site.
M&F Senior Navy Editor Rob Wilkins contributed to this Match to Serve article.
