Lt. Col. Vince Ross, USA (Ret), thought he would join the Army for a few years before getting out, but that turned into a rewarding 22-year career that inspired him to go back and become a junior ROTC instructor after retiring.

He joined the Army in 1986 after receiving his commission at West Virginia State University, where he took ROTC to help boost his grades.
"I said I was going to do three years, buy myself a car, and get out," Ross said, adding that three years turned into five, then 10, then 20 because he was enjoying it so much.

During that time, he taught senior ROTC at St. John's University in New York and junior ROTC at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. After retiring, he got a job teaching junior ROTC at Camden High School in Camden, N.J.

Ross said Camden is similar to where he grew up in Brooklyn, and he tries to inspire students while helping guide them.

"[We] try to make sure all our kids have a path when they leave high school and are great citizens," Ross said, whether that means going to college, joining the military, or finding a job. He also tries to be the kind of mentor he had when he was in ROTC.

Even though students at that age don't need to have their entire lives figured out, Ross and his fellow instructors at the high school help the students have a path toward something to get started.

"We spend a lot of time with them trying to cultivate their performance and work ethic and education and commitment," Ross said.

It can be heartbreaking when a student with so much potential suddenly makes some bad decisions and changes the direction of their lives, he said.
"I think we've changed and helped a lot of kids from not having some of those issues," Ross said.