(1) Subject to the availability of funding for such purpose, the State Superintendent of Public Education shall employ within the State Department of Education or, in the alternative, contract with the Mississippi Military Department for a statewide coordinator for Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs in the public schools. If employed by the State Department of Education, the JROTC statewide coordinator must be an active or retired member of the military and must meet any additional qualifications that may be established for the position by the State Superintendent of Public Education or State Personnel Board. However, if for any reason within the two-year period beginning July 1, 2014, a new JROTC statewide coordinator is employed by the department, the employment of such individual shall not be subject to the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board, except as otherwise provided in Section 25-9-127(4).

(2) The following are the powers and duties of the JROTC statewide coordinator:

(a) To coordinate training of new JROTC instructors and continuing education programs for certified instructors;

(b) To facilitate communication between JROTC programs in the various public schools;

(c) To assist in organizing competitions among JROTC units from different high schools;

(d) To assist in the development of the JROTC curriculum;

(e) To compile information on scholarships available to JROTC participants and to solicit support for such scholarships;

(f) To assist in establishing support groups for parents of students participating in a JROTC program;

(g) To solicit and accept financial support for JROTC programs from private sector donors;

(h) To promote the involvement of JROTC units within their local communities;

(i) To facilitate interaction between JROTC units and the Mississippi National Guard and Mississippi Air National Guard;

(j) To promote, in general, the JROTC program in high schools throughout the state;

(k) To assist local schools with the application process for establishing new JROTC programs in high schools; and

(l) To perform such other duties relating to the JROTC program established by the State Superintendent of Public Education or State Board of Education.