in the FLP program : Clay , Logan , Mineral , Putnam and Wyoming , spanning 12 schools and more than 570 students . So far , it has achieved a 100 % graduation rate with a total of 877 community service hours served and 20 students joining military services post-graduation .
“ What we are hoping to do with FLP is teach these kids what we call the basics of life , so when they get out of high school , they have a plan and are already ahead of the curve in being successful ,” says Eldridge .
The FLP , which is currently the only alternative to JROTC in the state , is not only working to fill the gap left behind but at a cheaper cost for participating schools . The total cost of the program is $ 80,000 per year to pay the teachers compared to the $ 130,000- $ 200,000 cost of the JROTC program , depending on the instructors hired . Through the program , the team hopes to enhance participating students ’ experience and teach them to be leaders within their schools , communities and the state by developing leadership skills , fostering academic excellence , building good citizenship , teaching basic military knowledge and history and promoting
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Each year , students learn eight core topics : leadership , citizenship , first aid , emergency preparedness , financial literacy , career direction , healthy lifestyle and communications . There are 10 core values making up the program , which create the acronym LEADERSHIP : loyalty , education , ambition , duty , encouragement , respect , selfless service , honor , integrity and personal courage .
A large part of the program focuses on physical fitness , drill and ceremony ,
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which Eldridge says teaches the students how to work as part of a team . The students are also encouraged to participate in community service to push them to seek professional opportunities they may not have otherwise experienced .
“ When these students get out of high school , they have a plan ready ,” Eldridge says . “ We define success not just financially — obviously we all want to make a decent living . It goes much deeper than that . It ’ s a personal satisfaction . We want to tie kids back into the community .”
By doing this , the program hopes to encourage students to achieve their career goals in the Mountain State , showing them how to achieve personal success in the state and pushing back on the current struggle to stay that young West Virginians are facing .
“ That ’ s what we ’ re trying to do — show them what ’ s available in the state ,” says Eldridge . “ West Virginia is a beautiful state , especially if you ’ re an outdoorsman . There are all kinds of things to do here . We think they will stay in West Virginia , they ’ ll contribute , and they ’ ll take pride in being a Mountaineer .”
Program courses are taught by former and retired military personnel , which the West Virginia Military Authority trains and employs with program oversight from the WVNG .
The instructors make a large impact in the schools , assisting with traditional teacher duties such as substituting classes and overseeing bus pickup and drop-off or in-school suspension . The instructors also bring experience of managing young men and women in their past military leadership positions , which leads them to teaching their students with structure and treating them as young adults rather than children .
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE