Instructors

Our Army JROTC program is administered and taught by two retired Army soldiers, each with over 20 years of active military service. Certified by both the U.S. Army Cadet Command and the State of Oregon to teach Junior ROTC, they have many years of experience working with young people and a firm commitment to help students become successful as leaders and citizens.

Senior Army Instructor

Lieutenant Colonel Dwight Morse (Retired)

Lieutenant Colonel Dwight E. Morse was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, graduating from Lincoln High School in 1970. He was appointed to the U.S Military Academy that year, graduating from West Point and earning his commission as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery in 1974. He served in a variety of position in a Field Artillery units in the United States, Germany, and Korea, including command of two batteries and assignments as a battalion and brigade operations officer. He taught for three and a half years in the English department at the U.S Military Academy and for three years in the center for Army Tactics, U.S Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His final active duty assignment, from 1993 to 1995, was as the Professor of Military Science at The University of Mississippi. While at Ole Miss, LTC Morse was responsible for preparing senior ROTC cadets to become commissioned officers, and it was here also that he had his first exposure to Junior ROTC.

LTC Morse earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Russian and Soviet Studies from the U.S Military Academy and a Master Degree in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin. He is also a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College. He retired from active service in 1995 to return home to Oregon and start up the Junior ROTC program at North Salem High School– the first in the Willamette Valley.

Lieutenant Colonel Morse’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral two, the Army Service Ribbon, the Ranger Tab, and the Army Parachutist Badge. He is a recipient of the Crystal Apple Award, presented annually to the top educators in the Salem Keizer School District.

Army Instructor

Sergeant First Class Erik M. Castillo was born on 15 August 1982 and raised in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Hawthorne High School in June 2000.

He enlisted the United States Army at the age of 17 on July 14, 2000 and attended One-Station Unit Training (OSUT) with Delta Battery 1/19th Field Artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. While there, Gunny Castillo was selected as a squad leader all the way through Advanced Individual Training. He graduated on November 2, 2000 with the military occupational skill (MOS) 13 Bravo, Cannon Crewmember.

In December 2000, Gunny Castillo’s first assignment was with Charlie Battery 3/321st Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he remained until November 2006. While assigned to 18th Field Artillery Brigade, Staff Sergeant Castillo attended the Primary Leadership Development Course and Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course where he earned placement on the Commandants List by demonstrating superior leadership ability while completing a demanding program of performance-oriented training. In April 2001, Staff Sergeant Castillo received orders to deploy to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Spring which was to provide security for a Patriot Missile Site. He returned home in May 2001. In October 2002, Gunny received orders to deploy to Hungary in support of Task Force Warrior which was to train Free Iraqi Forces (FIF) in basic combat skills. He returned home in May 2003. In November 2003, Gunny Castillo received orders to deploy to Afghanistan in support of building Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) in Kandahar. Upon arrival at Kandahar Airfield (KAF) his unit was reassigned and trained by the 7th Special Forces Group, which resulted in them conducting patrols, V.I.P. escort missions, and providing security and surveillance with Special Forces. He returned home in June 2004. In November 2005, Gunny Castillo then received orders to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to conduct logistical combat patrols escorting supplies as large as a 45-vehicle convoy. Gunny Castillo was selected as the Lead Convoy Truck Commander due to his exceptional map reading skills, terrain association skills and the ability to spot over 10 IEDs in unforeseen locations and areas. He was also stuck by an IED during this deployment and went through extensive rehab to relearn how to walk. This took about 2 weeks and Gunny hopped back into a gun truck to finish his deployment with his unit. He redeployed in November 2006. His unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

In June of 2007, Gunny Castillo received orders to 5/2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Fort Lewis, Washington where he spent 2 years. While assigned to the 5/2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Gunny Castillo earned the title of “Top Gun” on the first certification of the unit along with earning the “Expert Gunner” badge on multiple occasions.

In October 2009, Gunny Castillo received orders to Alpha Battery FIRES Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and would remain in Germany until September 2015. Gunny Castillo certified with a “Distinguished” title scoring 1060 out of a possible 1100 points. He also earned the “Expert Gunner” badge on two occasions, with one of them having the highest score in the Squadron. Staff Sergeant Castillo was also awarded The Order of the Silver Spur. He was hand selected by the 3rd Squadron Command Sergeant Major as a member of the Color Guard in the German American Partnership Ceremony. Staff Sergeant Castillo, as the Unit Movement Officer deployed and redeployed Alpha Battery ensuring all equipment remained 100% accounted for upon arrival in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2010 he deployed to Afghanistan and fired numerous “Danger Close” fire missions along with firing numerous infrared illumination rounds in support of US Army Special Forces and Navy Seals. He has also fired over 35 rounds of White Phosphorus smoke which resulted in the destruction of 3 large Hazardous Material factories. He returned home in 2011. In 2013, he deployed again to Afghanistan where he was hand selected over 9 other squads to provide private security for the Commander of the Security Forces Assistance Advisory Team, NATO commanding generals and the President of Afghanistan. He was awarded The Bronze Star during this deployment. He returned home in 2014. Gunny also attended the Senior Leaders Course in which he “exceeded the standards” on his overall evaluation. His unit was awarded the Valorous Unit award twice while he was stationed with them.

In September 2015, Gunny Castillo was assigned the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii where he served in both the 3/17 Field Artillery and 2/11th Field Artillery units as a Gunnery Sergeant until he was medically retired in March of 2018. This would mark the completion of 17.5 years of active duty service.

He also participated in numerous field training exercises throughout his career, including rotations at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California; the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana and the Mission Readiness Exercise in Hohenfels, Germany

Staff Sergeant Castillo’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster), the Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, The Armed Forces Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, The Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (with numeral 2), The Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon(with numeral 2), NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Driver’s Badge, Expert Field Artillery Badge, and Expert Rifle Badge, The Order of the Spur, Golden Combat Spurs, the Silver Schützenschnur (German Armed Forces Badge of Marksmanship), The Meritorious Unit Citation and the Valorous Unit Award (1 oak leaf cluster) He was also inducted to the following clubs/organizations: SGT Audie Murphy Club, SGT Morales Club and The Order of Saint Barbra.

Gunny Castillo also has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and social science, and he also has a minor in History. He is also a certified Master Life Coach through Transformation Academy.