Video: ROTC Anti Bullying Mission

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UNDATED, Miss. (WCBI)-Junior Air Force ROTC Units from four North Mississippi schools teaming up for an anti bullying initiative gets military support.

An army mobile exhibit command post on wheels was parked in front of West Lowndes High School Thursday.

Neighboring Air Force Junior ROTC unites from Noxubee and Lowndes Counties, along with those of Starkviklle and West Point High Schools are on a combined mission.

They have banded together, calling attention to the problem of bullying, especially on school campuses.

“Yes sir, we asked the students, you know to commit to, if they see it to stop it. If they are doing it to stop. So we asked them to make that committment,” said SFC Andrew Hodnette.

“Its not a good feeling when somebody gets bullied. It can send them to an institution, a mental institution,” said Moesha Brewer, ROTC WLHS.

The movie viewed in a special setting, seems to be changing whatever preconceived ideas they may have had about pulling pranks and other acts that may annoy and frustrate someone.

Bullying has been shown to be a possible factor in deadly school shootings across the country.

“Usually those students that come back and commit those shootings were picked on or ostracized by other students in the school. So what we have been asked to do is come out and give an anti bullying campaign to young people to show them that it not only effects them, but effects the people around them,” said Hodnett.

“Its very important to us, we are here to develop citizens and we really appreciate all the other schools coming out today to participate in these activities,” said Jaquaious Little, ROTC WLHS.

So at the end of a movie targeting bullys and the people bullied by them, those students are walking away knowing how better to respond when confronted by such attacks, whether they be verbal, physical, or via the internet.

“If you are being bullied and you’ve seen someone as being bullied and you didn’t help them. You are just as guilty of being a  bully,” said Delisa Woodard, ROTC Starkville High School.

“I’ve been bullied. I’ve bullied a couple of people. And I would go back and change it I could,” said Conner Bohna, ROTC Starkville High School.

“I feel its very good. I feel I can help others become what they want to be, instead of what people think they should be,” said Brewer.

According to facilitator, four in ten students are absent from school daily because they are victims of some sort of bullying.