John Fillmore had to repeat the 10th grade. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his life.

But four years in the Army — 1969 to 1972 — taught him the discipline he needed to become successful. Those years — and the lessons learned — motivated Rep. Fillmore, a member of the Arizona House of Representatives in District 16, to donate $1,000 to Apache Junction High School’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps at Tuesday’s Governing Board meeting.

“The regimentation and opportunities I got in the Army gave me the ability to do what I’ve done,” said Rep. Fillmore, who handed the check to NJROTC’s company executive officer cadet, Lt. Stone McPike.

“I’m someone that doesn’t have a formal education but this life in America has been very, very good to me because of the Army and the free enterprise system,” Rep. Fillmore said.

Gary Lock, lieutenant commander of the NJROTC at Apache Junction High School, said Rep. Fillmore’s donation will help offset the cost of the unit’s orientation trip to Washington D.C. over spring break. Lt. Cmdr. Lock said the orientation trips are built around military history and that he hopes students will be able to see the Navy yard, the Pentagon, etc., assuming COVID-19 restrictions don’t curtail the trip.

Eighty percent of NJROTC’s funding comes from the Navy. Lt. Cmdr. Lock said the unit also raises funds by doing community events, including a car show on Apache Junction High School’s campus.

In addition to his time in the Army, Rep. Fillmore said he was persuaded to write a check when he toured Apache Junction’s campus and was impressed by what he saw in the NJROTC students when he toured Apache Junction High School.

“Those kids were positive and enthusiastic,” Rep. Fillmore said. “When I heard the ROTC class might be discontinued I asked, ‘Do they need more money?’ I said, ‘I’ll give you $1,000.’"

“I didn’t even blink,” he said.

Editor’s note: Scott Bordow is Apache Junction Unified School District’s director of communications and community engagement.