Marksmanship program coming to Kennewick High School

Junior Nicolas Santillan doesn’t know a lot about target shooting, but he’s nonetheless excited that he’ll be able to compete in it next year at Kennewick High School.

The marksmanship program, aimed at helping Kennewick High’s Air Force Junior ROTC unit recruit and retain more students, will launch in the fall.

Kennewick School Board members unanimously approved the program’s creation Feb. 24. The decision allows JROTC, or Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, to store air rifles on school grounds and set up a portable firing range in Kennewick High’s annex gym. It also allows the unit to spend up to $2,500 in district money provided for career and technical education.

“I think it will give an opportunity for cadets to learn new skills,” said Nicolas, 17.

Unit director Lt. Col. Curtis Wichers emphasized to the board that safety and responsibility are paramount to any marksmanship program, and that the utmost care will be taken to protect students and district property. He said the dangers are minimal, as the program’s air rifles use small and relatively low-powered ammunition, and will generally be used outside regular school hours.

“A really limited population will ever see these rifles,” Wichers said.

Kennewick High launched its JROTC in fall 2014, starting with about 75 students. The program introduces students to aspects of military life and training, from drills and fitness to lessons in leadership and history.

Students who participate are often offered incentives if they eventually join one of the branches of the military.

Some students have transferred to Kennewick High because of the JROTC program, but enrollment dropped to 68 students this year. The unit needs need a minimum of 100 students in the next school year to maintain the Air Force’s sponsorship.

Wichers and Assistant Superintendent Ron Williamson have said that adding marksmanship could entice students to try out JROTC, as only those who have participated in the program for at least a year would be allowed to participate in the extracurricular activity. It also opens students up to competition and even scholarship opportunities at colleges and universities with marksmanship programs.

It also provides character development, such as self-discipline, Wichers said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to teach that,” he said.

Though firearms are generally forbidden on school grounds, state law does make exceptions for training programs connected to JROTC. JROTC units in Yakima and Walla Walla offer marksmanship.

The rifles use either spring-compressed air or a carbon dioxide cartridge to fire .177-caliber pellets. Wichers said a coffee can filled with wadded up newsprint is sufficient to stop the pellets, indicating their low power. They will be stored in a standard gun safe when not in use.

It will cost about $5,500 to start the program, officials said, with grants supplementing anything provided by the district. Annual costs, which will include buying additional rifles, ammunition, targets and other needs, will be sustained by grants and district CTE dollars, but also student fundraisers.

Board member Ben Messinger said he’s familiar with other marksmanship programs and knows they have tight safety rules and oversight. He said he had no concerns that Kennewick High’s program would meet those same standards.

“I’m very much in favor of it,” he said.

Nicolas said word of the new offering is only just starting to get around Kennewick High. But he plans to let friends not already in JROTC know about it, and he’s optimistic it will bring more students into the unit.

“It’s something they can go for. It’s an incentive reward,” he said.

This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 11:56 AM with the headline "Marksmanship program coming to Kennewick High School."