On Tuesday President Barack Obama told the nation that more troops need to be sent to Afghanistan.
On Wednesday KVUE learned that the nation's Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in high schools, colleges and universities are seeing an increase in enrollment and participation.
"With the economy down it will help them get a good education and I think a lot of people are interested in the foundation and the close knit group that we are", said Chief Gerald Thayer, instructor for the Air Force Junior ROTC program on the Bowie High School campus in South Austin.
Chief Thayer says Bowie's ROTC program expects to continue to see an increase in student enrollment in the Fall of 2010 for two reasons: a free college education offered by the military for veterans and a sense of national pride.
"My father is a veteran in the Army", said Alexis Poole, a Bowie senior.
"I get a lot of support from the people that are right here", said Vicente Hoyos, another Bowie senior.
Bowie High School ROTC cadets received extra credit in class for watching President Obama's speech Tuesday night regarding the need for more troops in Afghanistan.
"They did it in Iraq, they added a troop surge and it definitely cut down on violence and it cut down on rebellion", said Juan Valencia, a Bowie senior.
"It's going to be hard on a lot of families especially for mothers, just families in general; however, if it's what is needed in defense of the country, then so be it", said Alexis Poole, also a Bowie senior.
The vast majority of the Bowie ROTC cadets plan on entering college before enlisting in the military.
Forty percent of the Bowie High cadets are expected to receive scholarships to attend the college, university or military training school of their choice.
