Parkway West High School should create a JROTC program under any of the branches, but Army would be the best due to our proximity to Fort Leonard Wood. Currently some of the branches programs are full, and there are waiting lists of schools wishing to join. There is a program that could be chosen, National Defence Cadet Corps or NDCC, but this program is entirely funded by the school. Currently there are only three of these in existence.(Army)
The different programs with each branch vary slightly with what their academic focuses are, and what summer programs are offered for the Cadets. Across the board the programs teach the same ideals of leadership, confidence, and being a good citizen.(Army)(Navy)(Marine)(Air)
For any parents who would be concerned with their children being pulled into military service after participating in a JROTC program, it is notable that nearly 100% of the students of MAST or Maritime and Science Technology school go to college. MAST was created as a trade school partnered with the Coast Guard for minorities because they were not a significant part of the marine industry.(Coast Guard) Many JROTC instructors encourage the students to go to college and there is absolutely no commitment to the military made with the program(Pannoni)(answers).
Another concern could be the cost to run the program. Part of the partnership is that half of the teacher's salary is covered by the school and the other half the military pays. Uniforms are covered by the military along with most of the other supplies. This results in a JROTC class having less costs than other classes and money is not an issue.
Some parents may hear that there is a gun range involved in a JROTC program, but the rifles being used are air soft. The range would only be used during and right after school, so the noise would not be a problem. Construction would also include a backstop, so if a student would miss so there would not be stray bullets.