The Panther Valley JROTC continues to grow, doubling in the last few years, Maj. Adam Clark, senior Army instructor, told the Panther Valley School Board Wednesday.

The JROTC, or Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, a military program in the high school teaching leadership, citizenship and personal responsibility, has seen its numbers climb from 36 to 64, he said.

The program focused on ninth to 12th grade students now wants to expand to include eighth graders, Clark said. JROTC staff will give up their planning period to teach eighth graders during their enrichment period, he said.

“We will continue to teach our normal six other periods a day, and then also do the additional duties,” Clark said.

He also gave a nod to Principal Patricia Ebbert, who talked to JROTC members about their eligibility about 10 or 11 months ago.

Roughly 30% of participants were ineligible and staff have been working with cadets and parents to keep grades up and get them help they need to succeed in class, Clark said.

The number of ineligible cadets is now in the single digits, Master Sgt. Robert Yaeger said, and they are still working to improve.

The program is also recruiting more honors students, and seeing its cadets make the honor roll, Clark said. Out of 64 cadets, 22 made the honor roll, he said.

The JROTC also contributed robots to the school’s STEM, or Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, robotics program, Clark said. The JROTC received $6,000 in robotics and an additional $3,000 in aerial drone equipment, Yaeger said.

“So, we now stood up a drone team,” Clark said. “It’s completely self-taught. Instructors are not allowed to be part of any input. They have to learn all of the coding themselves.

“They have to code the drones to take off, go through obstacles and then land,’ Clark said.

Cadets are also working with veterans’ organizations and doing veteran engagement, in addition to participating in community events, such as parades, he said.

The drill team and marksman team continue to improve and started bringing home trophies to put in the school’s display cases, Clark said.

He also wants to get cadets involved in the Civilian Marksmanship Program, which will allow them to be nationally ranked and be eligible for scholarships.

Board President Daniel Matika asked if the program would be interested in getting back to doing veterans’ funerals, and Clark explained that veterans’ organizations are better suited to those.