JROTC Cadets Deserve Better Congressman Billy Long

During the past two years, I have become involved with Ozark High School's JROTC program. Through JROTC, our military provides to our communities valuable lessons in leadership, discipline, and military structure to high school students looking to make a career in the armed services. The program has been an invaluable part of our household as I personally see changes within our teenager as a kid who used to sleep all day to a kid now with motivation to reach a higher level.

I can't count how many mornings our teenager, who is in his second year of JROTC, wakes up just after 4:30 in the morning, cleans up in a manner acceptable to military regulations, and arrives at school often before the sun rises to practice the long time military tradition of drill and ceremony. I can't tell you enough, as a former solider the complexity in which these students engage in drill and ceremony. There are soldiers who go through their entire career never practicing moves as complex. Those who understand drill and ceremony know it's part military training that honors tradition while these students learn attention to detail.



Ozark JRTOC is led by dedicated instructors who spend many hours of their lives beyond school hours teaching them discipline, honor, and leadership. Due to the dedication of fine individuals, career soldiers that became instructors, Ozark High School has one of the finest JROTC programs in the country. They are national champions in the Sporter Class Air Rifle competition. They excel in drill and ceremony, raider competitions, and summer camps, as these young men and women prepare themselves for leadership positions in our armed services, which means many of them are preparing to leave mom and dad upon graduation and often find themselves in wars started long before they ever entered high school. It takes a special mindset as these kids must keep high and tight hair cuts throughout their high school careers and aren't given the choice to go with the latest trends.

Last month, Ozark High School JROTC cadets competed in the Smith Cotton Drill Competition in Sedalia, Missouri, one the most intense competitions of the year. Once again Ozark proved it's program to be exceptional placing in the tournament. It's been tradition for these cadets to be honored by community leaders and politicians for their achievements. Often these acknowledgments come in professional letters on official stationary with a laminated news article noting the accomplishments of the cadets.

Recently, even with a national championship in the air rifle competition under the Ozark JROTC's belt, one politician has been noticeably absent from honoring the kids at Ozark until now.

Congressman Billy Long sent the cadets who competed at Smith Cotton the following:

The return address reads "Billy Long for Congress" when it should
be on Congressman Long's official Congressional stationary. The signature
was described as a stamp.

Congressman Long, you have the tenth highest paid staff out of all freshman Congressmen. It would have taken so little effort to send these cadets the proper acknowledgement. Many of these cadets are months and years away from swearing an oath to protect and defend our Constitution and our Republic. They deserve better than this Congressman Long, not to mention your office looks second rate when it comes to constituent services.

Perhaps you can make it up to these cadets by planning to attend their awards banquet at 1830 hours on March 27, 2012, at Ozark High School. This may be a good way for you to see the professionalism of the program as they prepare to take on the leadership positions for our country's future and meet many who may be applying for West Point, Annapolis, The Air Force Academy, and other officer training programs.