Memorial High School’s Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (JROTC) program in Tulsa is currently being administered by two storied veterans.1SG James Wilcoxson entered the program one year after the program began in 1995. As a class of 2000 graduate, he enlisted in the Army in November of the same year and served twenty-three years in the Reserves. He was a Dual Status Military Technician. He worked as a federal civilian supporting his Army Reserve Unit as a Reserve Administrator. His service also included one deployment to Afghanistan. Knowing Wilcoxson had deep and meaningful ties to the program, CSM Kenneth Powell, one of the founders, asked Wilcoxson to apply for his position in May of 2023 because he was retiring. 1SG Wilcoxson has applied for the army instructor position and is awaiting approval from the US Army Cadet Command.
LTC Paul Jackson served twenty-eight years with the United States Army Reserve, including two deployments during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Both of his parents also served in the Army. Jackson said he always wanted to be an officer and entered the ROTC program at Kentucky State University, receiving his commission in May of 1989. He had a dual career, working in the oil and gas industry for twenty-five years while simultaneously serving in the army reserves. With a degree in mathematics, he began teaching geometry in 2024. However, when an opportunity arose to become a JROTC instructor, he jumped at the chance. His combination of military, civilian and ROTC experiences made him an ideal fit for the role of senior army instructor where he can share the wisdom he learned in the military with his cadets.
Steve Sibley, the co-publisher of Oklahoma Veteran News, is a 1974 graduate of Memorial High School. He joined the military immediately following his graduation and served for thirty-six years. He admitted he didn’t realize the significance of the school’s name until he returned for his fifty-year reunion in 2024.
Memorial High School was named as a memorial to Tulsa students and teachers who served as veterans in World War I, World War II, and the Korean Conflict, embodying values of character, equity, and excellence in honor of their sacrifice. The school was established in 1962 with its first graduating class in 1964.
Although this program has a strong heritage and tradition, it recently has had its struggles. The sudden death of COL Gregory Barack, former senior army instructor in 2004, and retirement of CSM Powell left the program without leaders for approximately two years. Jackson and Wilcoxson are both committed to rebuilding and increasing cadet enrollment and participation. Jackson cited the current freshman class as the building blocks to the future. Their success will help them recruit more students. Additionally, visits to local middle schools and parent conferences are avenues for program recruitment. The team is also looking into expanding the program curriculum to include drones, robotics and cybersecurity.
While JROTC is an Army training program, its purpose is not military recruitment. Its mission is, “To motivate young people to be better citizens.” Established by Congress in 1916, it is the oldest youth leadership program with a presence in more than 1700 high schools nationwide.
The program also follows the Army acronym of LDRSHIP which stands for Leadership, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage.
Jackson and Wilcoxson credit their participation in JROTC as a positive influence that helped teach them the skills they needed to succeed in both civilian and military careers. Both embody these qualities today and bring many years of wisdom and knowledge to the students they are teaching. Jackson stated that being the senior instructor is more about running a program than simply teaching a class. He is responsible for making sure the curriculum includes ethics and skills that are tangible. Some of those responsibilities include making certain the cadets meet mandatory requirements of community service, attendance at the veteran’s day parade, the annual military ball and the weekly wearing of the JROTC uniform.
The JROTC hosts an annual gala. It is for the cadets only; parents are not invited. It is an opportunity for them to showcase the skills they have learned throughout the year. It is held on a Saturday in April at a local restaurant. This year’s guest speaker will be Steve Sibley. As a program alumnus, he is looking forward to sharing his wisdom and passion for the military with the cadets.
If anyone is interested in donating to the JROTC program, you can mail checks designated to the program to Tulsa Memorial High School, 5840 South Hudson Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74135.
by Jill Stephenson, staff writer
