Near the small town of Rupert, WV, Midwest Greenbrier High School has a Junior ROTC program that teaches students the importance of serving others and taking care of themselves. The WGMS program is one of many across the country that has been influential in shaping and developing generations of Americans.
United States Army Brigadier General Maurice Barnett, who serves as the Commander of the Army Cadet Command, was kind enough to record a video to be shown to WGMS students and faculty. Good wishes aside, Barnett shared that the influence and impact of ROTC is something he can attest to professionally and personally, as it was the starting point for his own service.
“Now, 31 years of service in the military has been great, and it’s really a testament to Junior ROTC,” Barnett said in the video. “I’m so proud of you guys.”
What is ROTC?
Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a college program that trains students to become officers in the US military. There are also ROTC and Junior ROTC programs in middle and high schools that give students the opportunity to learn from military leaders while maintaining a student schedule. The middle school and high school versions have a structure similar to the military, but can be seen more as a coach.
The Army, Navy, and Air Force have ROTC and JROTC programs that allow students to indirectly test the waters before entering the service for a short- or long-term career. Many students choose to join, while others decide to go in a different direction. Barnett understands both sides of the decision, but also stated that even if students decide not to pursue military life, the rewards and benefits that come from ROTC or JROTC can serve them well after transitioning.
“Statistically, JROTC students, at least on the Army side — I can’t speak for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps — have higher GPAs, higher attendance rates and fewer discipline problems. So there are some residual things that happen through Junior ROTC that I think benefit these young men.”
His personal student experience led to ministry
Barnett and her three sisters grew up in a single-parent household in Gary, Indiana. He said his mother kept him in sports to keep him out of trouble. Barnett took Junior ROTC as a teenager and met Sergeant First Class Lewis Thomas, a Vietnam vet whom Barnett took under his wing.
“He really inspired me to think about it. I didn’t really have the confidence to pursue it,” Barnett explained. The final call to enlist came after his older sister joined the Marines.
“Seeing her change — emotionally and physically — she went to Parris Island and just came back a different person. I said, ‘I want something like that.’
Barnett originally joined the National Guard as a junior in high school and signed up for Senior ROTC in his sophomore year of college after speaking with Maj. Lance Lashley. It didn’t take long for the wheels to turn quickly.
“I took his lesson and the next thing I knew, I was in Fort Lewis, Washington for boot camp.”
Barnett entered active duty on New Year’s Day 1995. He initially wanted to serve for four years, but he loves to serve. His career took him to Fort Drum, New York, where he was a battery commander, and to West Point, where he served as a PE instructor. He also earned his master’s in kinesiology from Indiana University along the way. He went to Germany and was sent to Afghanistan.
Barnett became commander of the US Army Cadet Command in August 2024. He served in this position from Fort Knox and during his tenure was a positive force for the high school’s more than 300,000 cadets and staff. He came to the conclusion that he returned as much in return.
“I think about the impact you have on people’s lives in this profession, the impact you have and then what you get in return is probably even greater than what they do for you.”
Introducing H2F to students
The Army’s commitment to its soldiers through The Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) program has been well documented in the pastand Barnett advocated five domains of preparation; Physical, mental, nutritional, spiritual and sleep. H2F has already shown signs of success where it has been implemented, and that’s why Barnett is excited to see H2F courses applied to JROTC programs. By early 2026, only 23 percent of Americans aged 17-24 will be eligible to serve without a waiver. According to Barnett, the goal is to change that statistic, and implementing these courses could be a solution.
“Here we have every junior cadet taking a version of the H2F. They might not get all five pillars, but the sooner we talk to them about sleep, nutrition, mental health and fitness, the better off they’ll be.”
Recruiting is happening in all areas, but to maintain this momentum, the health and well-being of America’s youth must be a priority. Whether students choose to serve in ROTC programs or not, many military leaders have noted that a healthier nation is a safer nation.
Knowing the potential of these H2F courses and how it could impact the future of many students across the country, Barnett expressed both optimism and satisfaction at the development.
“It makes me proud to be a part of it and to think about the lives we’re changing.”
Barnett’s next chapter awaits
At the time Barnett spoke with Fit to Serve, he was stepping down from his current role. From March 2026, he is scheduled to move from Fort Knox to a new position at the US Space Command.
“I’m going to another assignment at Peterson Air Force Base,” he said. “I’ll be the J-5 director of plans and policy there, so a little bit outside of my skill set. It’ll stretch me a little bit, I think.”
While he expressed some uncertainty about what to expect, he also said that his combination of beliefs and experience, along with the talented people he will be working with, will be assets as he steps into this new role. Those same qualities can be traced back to his ROTC days, so he hopes the next generation of citizens will consider it for their future.
“Through this JROTC experience, I really believed that I could do anything. And that’s kind of the intention, right? To give them the tools they need to really stretch themselves and become whatever they think they can be at that moment.”
To learn more about the Army ROTC program, visit their website.
M&F Senior Military Editor Rob Wilkins contributed to this Fit to Service article.
