The Hawkins County Schools Board Meeting held on June 5, 2025, featured a comprehensive presentation by the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program at Volunteer High School. The meeting began with expressions of gratitude from the JROTC instructors for the board's support and an introduction to the accomplishments of the cadets over the past year.

The presentation highlighted the history and mission of the JROTC program, which was established by public law in 1964 and aims to develop citizenship and leadership skills among students. The instructors emphasized that the program is not a recruitment tool for the military but focuses on personal development through various activities, including community service, athletics, and competitions.

Key achievements of the Volunteer High School JROTC included maintaining distinguished unit status for multiple years, which reflects the hard work and dedication of the cadets. The program has also received academic honors, allowing instructors to nominate cadets for attendance at service academies.

Cadet leadership was introduced, with current Cadet Commanding Officer Miley Hill and former Cadet Commanding Officer Honor Rodriguez presenting. They detailed the structure of the cadet leadership team, which includes various officer positions and team commanders responsible for different activities such as physical fitness, academics, and drill competitions.

The cadets reported on their successful participation in numerous competitions, including a notable performance by the rifle team, which placed highly in state and national events. The drill team also showed promise, achieving commendable rankings in recent competitions.

The meeting concluded with a summary of upcoming events for the JROTC, including leadership training and community service projects. The board members expressed their appreciation for the cadets' hard work and the positive impact of the JROTC program on student development in Hawkins County.