Romeoville High School's MCJROTC Earns 2nd Place At Nationals

ROMEOVILLE, IL — The Romeoville High School United States Marines Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training program brought home an overall second-place finish from the MCJROTC National Drill Championship, as well as happy news that the program will continue next year.

According to a news release, the District said the program was informed earlier this year by the Marine Corps that the unit would be disestablished at the end of the 2026-27 school year due to low participation.

"On the heels of that disappointing news, the RHS program learned in March they were one of only nine MCJROTC programs nationwide selected to compete in the MCJROTC
National Drill Championship," the District said. The competition was held April 11 in Georgia.

The District shared that the National Drill Championship is the premier and most exclusive Marine Corps JROTC competition drill event of the year. This is the first time that RHS MCJROTC was selected to compete at the National Drill Championship.

After learning the program was heading to Nationals, "the leadership of Valley View Community Unit School District 365U, Romeoville HS Administration, a group of highly motivated parents, and other supporters conducted a communications effort directed to the USMC asking that the
Corps reconsider the disestablishment decision," the District said.

At the community send-off on April 8, Senior Marine Instructor and retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Couturier shared the news that the efforts to save the program were successful. USMC Col. Robert Oltman gave preliminary approval for the RHS USMCJROTC program to continue for at least the next three years as long as the number of cadets in the program is at 50 and all the other requirements of the National Defense Cadet Corps are met, the District said.

At Nationals, the RHS unit earned the following placings in the
specific competition events:
National Regulation Placing: 2nd
National Color Guard: 4th
National Exhibition Placing: 4th

In addition, Romeoville HS 12th grade student C/1st Sgt Melanie Arellano earned recognition as the Top Unit Commander in the Nation, the District said.

After all scores were totaled, Romeoville had earned
second place overall in the MCJROTC National Drill Championship. The only school to place ahead of RHS was Brenham Texas HS who defended the championship they had earned in 2025.

“This was an absolutely outstanding experience for our RHS Cadets. Our cadets have put in many years of effort into this endeavor of making to Nationals," Couturier said. "I’m so proud of our performances this entire school year, and to place second overall in the nation and have the Top Unit Leader is a testament to how these cadets are trained and what can be achieved here at Romeoville. I want everyone to know, this team represented Romeoville and VVSD with class and distinction. We beat multiple previous national champions, and I cannot thank all our supporters enough.”