U.S. Coast Guard Heartland Office: 504-671-2020 Cell: 618-225-9008
NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard, Clinton High school and Saraland High School conduct a commissioning ceremony for the first Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps units in Mississippi and Alabama, Wednesday and Thursday morning.
The Coast Guard JROTC program aims to inspire and develop young leaders by instilling the values of teamwork, discipline, and service to the community. This initiative will provide high school students with a unique opportunity to explore careers in the Coast Guard and gain valuable leadership skills that will benefit them in their future endeavors.
During the event, Rear Adm. Will Watson outlined the program’s objectives, curriculum, and the benefits it offers to participating students. Students will have the opportunity to learn more about the Coast Guard’s mission, its role in safeguarding our nation’s maritime interests, and the numerous career paths available within the organization.
The Coast Guard established its first JROTC unit in 1992, in Miami. Under recent federal legislation, the Coast Guard is expanding the JROTC program to every Coast Guard District by 2025. The Clinton and Saraland High School JROTC program, activated in November of 2023, marks the first two units in Coast Guard District Eight.
