The Gloucester High School Junior ROTC program has regained an accreditation from the U.S. Marine Corps that could, among other things, make it easier for students at the high school to attend national military academies.
Gloucester High has been named a Naval Honors School two years after it lost the distinction, which is given to the top 20 percent of the 223 Marine Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs in the country.
As a Naval Honors School, the principal of Gloucester High and the leader of the Junior ROTC program can nominate students at the high school for admission to the three federal military academies, which otherwise require a recommendation from a U.S. senator or congressman.
"What it means to us is that we can nominate students to the military academies over and above what the legislators do," said Richard Muth, senior Marine instructor and leader of the Gloucester Junior ROTC program. "We do not necessarily push the military or academies, but it is another benefit of the program you get. You are increasing the chances for students."
The Marines honors program awards status based on an annual inspection of a school's level of enrollment, community service, graduation rate, and participation in regional and national competitions.
There are eight Marine Junior ROTC programs in Massachusetts and, aside from Gloucester, only Lynn English High School has been named a Naval Honors School. The Marines fall under the purview of the U.S. Department of the Navy; that is why the Marines JR ROTC programs are awarded Naval Honors School status.
Gloucester High's Junior ROTC has an air rifle shooting team and drill team that have been successful in recent years in national competitions.
Gloucester High's Junior ROTC had been an Army program for about a century before it was discontinued in the mid 1980s. The program was revived in 1996 as a Marines-based program, when the school hired Muth, who served for 22 years in the Marine Corps.
The school was named a Naval Honors School for the first time in 1998 and kept that distinction every year until 2005. That's when Muth left for Lynn English, and for two years, Gloucester was not chosen. Muth declined to speculate on why he thought the program had not received the distinction in his absence.
Enrollment in the program, which had reached as high as 200 students during Muth's first tenure, was down to 81 students at one point during the 2006-2007 academic year before he returned to GHS last year.
In addition to making it easier for students apply to military academies — where Muth said only two students had been accepted from Gloucester in recent years — the enhanced reputation of a Naval Honors School could also help students' chances of receiving scholarships from ROTC programs at colleges and universities.
Richard Schafer, the Marine Junior ROTC director for the region that includes the East Coast down to Maryland, said that, although the tough admissions standards at Annapolis or West Point were not any lower for Naval Honors Schools, their ability to nominate students levels the playing field for those students unable to secure an interview with a U.S. senator or congressman.
He said the distinction puts Gloucester High School in good company.
"It just shows that they are running a real strong program and that kids are involved in those elements that separate great from average, such as community service and school government," Schafer said.
Patrick Anderson can be reached at panderson@gloucestertimes.com
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