Texas State Senator Bob Hall, representing District 2, visited International Leadership of Texas Friday, March 1 to tour the Marine Corps JROTC (MCJROTC) Facility in Garland.

Upon the senator's arrival, ILTexas Color Guard cadets presented the colors outside the Lt. Col. William Groom Leftwich, Jr. MCJROTC Facility.

To begin the tour, Sen. Hall heard a brief presentation by Col. Michael Brown, ILTexas Executive Director of JROTC, providing an overview of the ILTexas MCJROTC program and mission. ILTexas has the highest MCJROTC enrollment percentage of any high school in the country where MCJROTC enrollment is optional. 

Cadets then showed Sen. Hall the state-of-the-art classrooms, indoor air rifle shooting range, locker room, and onsite fitness obstacle course. 

Sen. Hall served as a Captain in the United States Air Force, and currently serves on the Senate Committee of Finance, Health and Human Services, Local Government, and Veteran Affairs. Sen. Hall explained to cadets how his time in the military, and skills learned throughout his service, can apply to many industries in the business world and in politics. He told cadets one of the most important perspectives he's gained in leadership is, "You may not win. You may get beat. But you can't quit."

Sen. Hall's tour of the ILTexas MCJROTC Facility concluded with receiving a Charter Champion Award, provided by the Texas Public Charter School Association. Charter Champion Awards are given to state lawmakers who have demonstrated support for charter school education in Texas. 

Read more about the ILTexas MCJROTC Program here.