My DS 1 graduated two years ago from a public high school in WA, and enlisted USMC. A woman at church congratulated his choice and opined that she was disappointed that our high school did not recognize her son’s enlistment the year before. Our high school DID recognize SA and ROTC at senior awards night and is very focused on college success (93% go on to 4 year colleges). So, I wrote an email to the high school point of contact and principal suggesting that they recognize at graduation any student dedicating themselves to national service - whether military or not (i.e Americorps). The solution came in the principal’s address during the graduation ceremony, when she asked all students devoting themselves to national service (and she listed branches of military as well as Americorps specific to our graduating class) to stand up and be recognized - there was a roar and lots of clapping. The high school hadn’t ever done recognition on the enlisted or non- scholarship side. I think it was especially important for those attending the graduation to see the relatively small number going military (less than a dozen SA/ROTC/enlistment in a class of 340).
This year, DS2 will be recognized at senior awards night for NROTC MO scholarship - whether the local recruiter comes? or a school official reads the scholarship description we sent in. I expect the same kind of recognition during the graduation ceremony for all those choosing military. WA is a liberal state, but I’m glad our high school opted for inclusion during our graduation events.
www.cadetcommand.army.mil