The Springfield High School Marine Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MJROTC) marked a milestone in military tradition on Friday, celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps with full ceremony and pride.
The Marine Corps birthday, officially observed on November 10, honors the founding of the branch by the Continental Congress in 1775. Springfield’s cadets embraced the time-honored customs of the Corps, including the reading of the Commandant’s message and the ceremonial cake-cutting, where the oldest and youngest Marines (or cadets) share the first slices as a symbol of continuity and legacy.
During the event at SHS, several cadets were promoted and recognized for exceptional physical fitness, reflecting the discipline and leadership core to the MJROTC program.
“On the birthdate of our Corps, we gather, we celebrate, we eat together,” said Master Sergeant Richard McGinn, MJROTC Instructor at Springfield High. “No matter where you are in the world today, your brothers and sisters in arms are celebrating with you.”
Springfield High’s MJROTC program is one of only three Marine-focused JROTC units in Ohio and has been shaping Springfield students for nearly three decades. With more than 100 cadets, the unit represents 10% of the school’s student body, making it one of the most active and impactful leadership programs at the high school level.