JCTC Educational Highlight: Military Leadership program

Published 11:40 am Thursday, October 26, 2017

One week each month over the next year, The Jessamine Journal will partner up with the Jessamine Career and Technology Center to inform readers about a different program offered at the school.

This month’s spotlight program is the JCTC Military Leadership program. The program, under the leadership of LTC (retired) Walter Leaumont, is modeled after the JROTC program. It offers students information on and exposure to the customs, courtesies and history of all branches of military service in a classroom and first-hand training. In addition, students are taught drill and marching, and challenged with physical training.

“We participate in the Veteran’s Day programs for the school system, as well as several community events,” Leaumont said of the program’s community involvement. “We march in the Nicholasville Christmas parade, and have a relationship with the Thompson-Hood Veterans Center.” Other events that the students in the program take part in include the Jessamine West High School Veterans Day presentation, the Rosenwald Dunbar Color Guard and the  UK ROTC Junior Challenge.

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The class is currently promoting a GofundMe fundraiser to purchase T-shirts and complete uniforms as well as fund outside activities since they are not an official JROTC program and lack the funding. Additional information and funding pledges can be made at www.gofundme.com/jctc-military-leadership-activitied.

The program recently celebrated its first student enlistment. Jacob Murphy has enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and will leave for boot camp in June.