Camden County school officials are waiting for approval from the U.S. Coast Guard to move forward with the nation's second Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program.

Camden County High School received permission to start the program for potential Coast Guard recruits when Congress approved the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act on June 27. Section 401 of the bill allows for the creation of a Coast Guard JROTC training program in Camden.

The program would allow students to learn more about the mission of the Coast Guard, which maintains one of its largest bases in Elizabeth City. Federal legislation also includes money to help school officials pay for course development, materials, cadet uniforms and instructor salaries.

"The ball's in the Coast Guard's court," said Ron Melchiorre, Camden County Schools superintendent, during the school board's July 13 meeting. According to Melchiorre, all necessary contacts with officials at the service's headquarters in Arlington, Va., as well as in Elizabeth City have been made.

Elizabeth City native Bob Camuccio is the senior instructor for the Coast Guard's only JROTC program, the Maritime and Science Technology High School in Miami, Fla. As an instructor, Camuccio sees firsthand the benefits of the JROTC.

"I remember one time a former student came back and thanked me for getting him through music school," said Camuccio, who is also a retired Coast Guard lieutenant commander.

The student explained to Camuccio that the discipline and time-management skills he learned as a cadet helped him get through college.

Camuccio wants to see the program happen in Camden County.

"JROTC is a fantastic service to young people," he said.

The JROTC program is designed as a journey of lessons that follows students from their freshman year through senior year with hands-on training in leadership.

"They start off not knowing anything (and become) mature leaders," Camuccio said. "That's a big plus, whether they continue on with a career in the military or decide to be a lawyer or musician."