Members of the Graves County High School Army JROTC program recently visited Fort Campbell as part of the Community Connections program, coordinated by Graves County Economic Development (GCED).
The U.S. Military offers many career options for students and participation in JROTC can set students on the right path with valuable training and experience and scholarships for those pursuing ROTC at the college level. Graves County’s JROTC program focuses on developing leadership, citizenship, and discipline, with roughly 100 students participating. The program is also open to students from Mayfield High School and Northside Baptist Christian Schol. Their competitive Raider team has achieved top national rankings.
"Thanks to the Community Connections Program, our students are gaining the exposure they need to navigate life after graduation,” said Allyssa Binkley, Secondary Instructional Supervisor for Graves County Schools. “After a meaningful and eye-opening trip to Fort Campbell, our JROTC cadets have a much clearer vision of the opportunities and career paths awaiting them.”
Known as the "nation's premier power projection platform," Fort Campbell is designed to deploy contingency forces quickly via air, rail, highway, and water. It is home to the 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles.” The Fort supports roughly 30,000 active-duty soldiers and specialized units including the 5th Special Forces Group, Special Operations Aviation Regiment “Night Stalkers,” the 531st Hospital Center, and the 52nd Ordnance Group.
Eric Walker, community education director for both Mayfield and Graves County schools, said the Fort Campbell field trip was an incredible experience for the students. “The JROTC students from Graves County High School learned about the different areas that operate to keep us safe, from military intelligence and military police to the use of drone technology, and heavy equipment. If they didn't know about the vast world of opportunities that exists within the U.S. military, they do now!"
“I had the opportunity to visit Fort Campbell last spring with my Leadership West Kentucky class and it was truly an eye-opening experience,” said Mayfield/Graves County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Katie Beth McCord. “I’m so grateful these students were able to get a firsthand glimpse into military life and to see the incredible asset we have right here in our region. I commend these students for their interest in serving our country, and I’m thankful to those who made this meaningful experience for our Community Connections students possible.”
“We are grateful to Fort Campbell leadership for making this extraordinary visit possible,” said GCED President Jason Lemle. “To not only see and hear about the roles of these officers and enlisted personnel, but to actually participate in some of their routine training, is inspiring for these students. Graves County is a patriotic community with a tradition of military service and this visit helps ensure that students don’t overlook these opportunities.”
Community Connections is an innovative workforce development program that helps students learn about local career prospects and build relationships that could lead to internships, job shadowing, and other professional development opportunities. It is coordinated by Graves County Economic Development (GCED) in partnership with Graves County and Mayfield Independent Schools, the City of Mayfield, Mayfield/Graves County Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, and the West Kentucky Workforce Board.
Community Connections visits continue throughout the school year.