HAMILTON TWP., Ohio — “Good morning everyone, welcome to Wednesday,” Casey Campbell says at the front of the classroom .

Wednesday is uniform day.

“Please join me in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance,” Campbell says.

Boots squeak against the ground as students turn to face the flag. Campbell is not a teacher. He’s a student.

Here's how one high school ROTC program encourages students' growth

“You have three minutes,” said Chas. Peterson, a retired Air Force veteran who runs the junior ROTC program at Little Miami High School. “Go!”

The sound of more boots and hairspray fills the room.

“We grade everything,” Peterson says. “For many of them, this is probably the nicest clothes they own.”

Some students laugh, and some nod in agreement.

“When they’re out at football games, people

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