Coatesville High School students are putting on Air Force uniforms to show their pride in their community as part of the Junior Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, writes Vittoria Woodill for CBS Philly.

“Other people put on this uniform and really fought,” said one of the participants of the ROTC program. “You have to have that sense of pride. You can’t just put it on and not care.”

The students are called to duty where they live right now, no matter what they may decide to do in the future. As one of the participants explained, joining the ROTC does not mean they have to go straight to the military once they graduate high school. They can follow any path they choose.

The students who participate in the program help out their community in different ways. They do community service, help out at food banks, and clean up the environment. They also learn about all aspects of aviation and can gain college credits as part of the program.

Learn more about the ROTC program at Coatesville High School from CBS Philly here.