Welcome to the East Coweta High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (MCJROTC)
The ECHS MCJROTC has two instructors:
Senior Marine Instructor: Sergeant Major USMC (ret) Scott Braden
Marine Instructor: Master Sergeant USMC (ret) Jason Roope
Marine Instructor East Coweta High School
Sergeant Major USMC (ret)
Scott Braden
Hails from Pittsburgh PA and enlisted into the Marine Corps in 1997. He completed recruit training on July, 18th 1997 at Parris Island South Carolina. He completed Marine Combat Training and engineer equipment mechanics course in the same year.
Upon completion of entry level training Sergeant Major Braden reported to 2nd Maintenance Bn 2nd FSSG, Camp Lejeune North Carolina until 1999 when he received orders and reported to 1st Marine Air Wing, MACS-4, Okinawa Japan. While with MACS-4 he participated in various training exercises in the Philippines and Korea.
In 2001 Sergeant Major Braden transferred to I&I, 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, Baltimore Maryland where he served as Maintenance Chief and Color Sergeant. In 2004 Sergeant Major Braden reported to Drill Instructor School, Parris Island, South Carolina. While at Parris Island he served as Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and Marine Combat Instructor Trainer of Water Survival.
In 2007 Sergeant Major Braden was transferred to 2nd Maintenance Bn, Camp Lejeune, NC where he served as Platoon Sergeant, Maintenance Chief, and Company Gunnery Sergeant and deployed in support of OIF as a combat advisor to the 1st Iraqi Army Division, MiTT 0100 from Oct 2007 to Sept 2008. In 2010 Sergeant Major Braden was transferred to CLB 4, 3rd MLG, Okinawa Japan. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of OEF from January to July of 2012 and participated in training exercises in the Philippines, Korea, and 29 Palms CA.
In 2013 Sergeant Major Braden was transferred to 8th Engineer Support Bn, 2nd MLG, Camp Lejune NC and served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant. In 2014 he was selected to First Sergeant and transferred to Engineer School where he served as Combat Engineer Instruction Company First Sergeant.
In 2016 Sergeant Major Braden was transferred to 2nd Bn 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.
While with 2/8 he served as Weapons Company First Sergeant and upon selection to Sergeant Major he served as 2/8 Bn Sergeant Major. In 2016 he deployed with 2/8 to Romania in support of Black Sea Rotational Force and the Unit Deployment Program to Okinawa Japan in 2018.
In 2019 Sergeant Major Braden was transferred to Recruiting Station Springfield MA, Marine Corps Recruiting Command where he served as the Recruiting Station Sergeant Major. He retired in July of 2022 and began his current position as East Coweta High School, JROTC, Marine Instructor.
Master Sergeant Jason L. Roope
Marine Instructor
MSgt Jason L. Roope enlisted into the Marine Corps directly from graduating Mariner Highschool in Cape Coral Florida on 13 June 1994. He was a part of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island SC, 2 nd Bn G Co. PFC Roope graduated on 2 September and proceeded to MCT on Camp Geiger NC, from their attended AFFR on NAS Millington TN.
LCpl Roope was then sent to MCAF Hawaii as basic firefighter in January of 1995. LCpl Roope participated in several exercises while stationed in Hawaii to include several exercises at the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on Hawaii’s Big Island and assigned to Kiluauea Military Camp for eight months also located on Hawaii’s Big Island. LCpl Roope would be promoted to Cpl and transferred to MCAS Iwakuni Japan in June of 2000.
While stationed in MCAS Iwakuni Japan, Cpl Roope participated Exercise Crocodile2000 in Australia aboard Maritime Positioning Force and executed a partial offload in Bridgton Australia, and then assisted in the ARFF mission in Rockhampton Australia. During his tenure in Iwakuni, Jason was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and received orders to MCAS Beaufort SC.
Upon arrival to MCAS Beaufort, Sgt Roope was assigned as a senior rescue man and Assistant Station Captain. After three months, Sgt Roope was selected to be an instructor as the Corporals Course aboard MCAS Beaufort. After seven months as an instructor, Sgt Roope returned to MCAS Beaufort ARFF department, where he and nine other Marines from MWSS 273 would deploy with MWSS 272 for deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January – June 2003.
Sgt Roope would receive orders to be a Drill Instructor School aboard MCRD Parris Island SC for class 2-05 in January 2005. Sgt Roope would be assigned to 3 rd Bn M Co through 2008. While assigned as a Drill Instructor, Jason would be promoted to Staff Sergeant. During his time as a Drill Instructor, SSgt Roope attended the Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor Program and was certified as an instructor.
Upon a successful tour, SSgt Roope would return to MCAS Beaufort ARFF department and assigned as an Assistant Station Captain, Station Captain, and Assistant Chief of Training. SSgt Roope would deploy again Iraq in support of OIF 8.2. While in Iraq, SSgt Roope was assigned as the Forward Operating Base Mudaysis Staff Non-Commissioned Officer. The detachment supported the movement of over 1,500 personnel, 638,000 lbs of equipment and cargo, 96,000 gallons of fuel, and supported over 245 various combat aircraft.
Prior to leaving MCAS Beaufort SC, Jason was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and proceeded to MCAS Okinawa Japan ARFF Department. During his time in Okinawa, GySgt Roope served as the Assistant Chief of Logistics and Assistant Chief of Training. GySgt Roope was also selected to serve as the Headquarter and Headquarters Squadrons, Squadron GySgt.
In 2013, GySgt Roope received orders to MCAS Yuma. While assigned to the ARFF Department in MCAS Yuma, GySgt Roope served as the Assistant Chief of Training, Assistant Chief of Operations, and the Deputy Chief. While stationed in Yuma, GySgt Roope was promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant.
MSgt Roope, then received orders to MCAS Cherry Point NC in 2016, and was assigned as the Deputy Fire Chief and often served as the Fire Chief. MSgt Roope retired in June 2021.
MSgt Roope awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of 5th award, OIF Campaign Medal with bronze star in lieu of 2nd award, Presidential Unit Citation with bronze star in lieu of 2nd award.
MSgt Roope is married to his wife Erika and has two children, Aurora and Morgan.
Battalion Commander: Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Clark
Executive Officer: Cadet Major Bleigha Palmer
Sergeant Major: Cadet Sergeant Major Kenzie Rose
Admin Officer: Cadet Captain Arayah Ellis
Admin Chief: Cadet Gunnery Sergeant Divya Bartlett
Operations Officer: Cadet Captain Alma Perez
Operations Chief: Cadet Gunnery Sergeant Abi Shadix
Supply Officer: Cadet Captain Xandry Newman
Supply Chief: Cadet Gunnery Sergeant Jacob Grubbs
JROTC letter to parents.docx