JROTC

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/11/us/jrotc-schools-mandatory-automatic-enrollment.html

"Thousands of youths are compelled to join military’s Junior ROTC"

I am not seeing how this is a bad thing.

The story starts with a student who has been enrolled in JROTC.

 

 "In the class, students had to wear military uniforms and obey orders from an instructor who was often yelling, Thomas said, but when several of them pleaded to be allowed to drop the class, school administrators refused.

“They told us it was mandatory,” Thomas said."

Our school has JROTC.  I have never heard our JROTC instructors yell.  Well, not anymore than any other teacher. Though I am sure they would like to.  And assign PT as a punishment.

It is not like boot camp with Drill Sergants frothing at the mouth from screaming.  It is not "military uniforms," it is "military style uniforms."  These students are not in the military.  

As far as mandatory, it is more likely "you have to be somewhere."  When I would talk to new JROTC instructors, I would be asked "Why is he/she in ROTC?'  

My réponse would be "He has to be somewhere."