Washington, D.C. – The Veterans Memorial High School in Corpus-Christi (CCISD) has been chosen to host a Coast Guard JROTC unit – a significant win for the school and the Corpus-Christi military presence. 

The decision follows a major initiative from Coast Guard leadership in Corpus-Christi, where in August 2023, Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX-27) attended a South Texas Military Task Force Meeting where local Coast Guard leadership shared the school’s plan to apply for hosting the unit. Following that meeting, in September, Congressman Cloud sent a letter of support to the U.S. Coast Guard on behalf of CCISD – helping result in CCISD’s selection. 

This is a significant milestone for the school and a victory for the Corpus-Christi community. It will benefit recruiting, build on the strong relationship between the U.S. Coast Guard and our district, and continue to establish Corpus Christi’s reputation as one of the most military friendly homes in Texas. 

Rep. Cloud released the following statement:

“This is a significant victory for TX-27 and our folks in Corpus-Christi,” said Rep. Cloud, “and I’m grateful to have played even a small role in helping make it happen. As we noted in the letter, there is truly no better location than Veterans Memorial High School – and the Coast Guard is engrained in the very fabric of our outstanding community. I want to thank Captain Hans Govertsen, Commanding Officer of Air Station Corpus Christi, for bringing this opportunity to my attention back in August – as well as the Coast Guard for further investing in Corpus-Christi and supporting CCISD and the students who will be a part of the unit. There were also a lot of local folks on the ground who played a critical role in making this happen, including Scott Walker, Veterans Memorial High School Principal, and Dr. Roland Hernandez, CCISD Superintendent, both of whom tirelessly advocated for this initiative. This is a huge win for our military community and will help us make tremendous strides in important work like search and rescue, securing the border, and protecting Texas resources.”

“We are honored to be a large public school district in a community with a large military population,” said Superintendent Dr. Roland Hernandez. “As the ‘Sparkling City by the Sea,’ we see the Coast Guard positively impacting our community on a daily basis. It is our mission to serve those who serve, and this new JROTC unit is a significant milestone in our well-established support for military students and families.”

To read the September 2023 letter of support from Rep. Cloud, click here.

###