Things had not changed a lot in 1963 when I graduated from college and began working for one of the Big Eight CPA firms in Washington, DC.

You are correct - Washington, D.C. public schools had a volunteer Cadet Corps - an ROTC-like organization. It was a pretty big thing with competitions, twice a week drills, a cadet band, and an annual Ball, etc. In later years during WWII there was even a Girls Cadet Corps.

I was a member all the way through high school, which helped when I joined ROTC in College. We had to buy our own uniforms(tailor made too), but the Government provided a part time instructor and rifles. Never regretted it.

It certainly doesn't look like an earring.

[This detail from the full-size LOC tiff shows it more clearly. Looks like an earring. - tterrace]

How do you lose a drawer?

don't let this monstrosity fall on my one remaining leg.

[The other shoe drops. - tterrace]

High school cadets.

Anyone have an idea about the men in uniform?

At least in New England we really liked Magnet High curricula that taught careers. I wonder if this was part of some commerce or business tract education you could train in. Also the two gents up front appear to be in some sort of Military Uniform. Looks to be US Army. ROTC perhaps?

The woman on the far left has quite some hair. Though she has it all tied up somehow, look at how much hair is there. I wonder if she'd ever had a haircut in her entire life.

I notice the large electric motor under the machine that the woman is using. Appears that it is not plugged in.

[It's a pretty safe bet they were repositioned for the photo. - tterrace]