JROTC

The Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) is a program offered to high schools that teaches students character education, student achievement, wellness, leadership, and diversity. It is a cooperative effort between the Army and the high schools to produce successful students and citizens, while fostering in each school a more constructive and disciplined learning environment.

The goals of the JROTC program are to teach students to: Act with integrity and personal accountability as they lead others to succeed in a diverse and global workforce, Engage civic and social concerns in the community, government, and society, Graduate prepared to excel in post-secondary options and career pathways, Make decisions that promote positive social, emotional, and physical health, and Value the role of the military and other service organizations. With the school’s support, the JROTC program achieves these goals by using a world-class 21st Century, technology driven, student centered curriculum. The curriculum consists of education in citizenship, leadership, social and communication skills, physical fitness and wellness, geography, and civics.

The curriculum is facilitated and taught by retired Army personnel. Qualified retired Army personnel are employed by the schools to teach the JROTC curriculum. JROTC teacher qualifications are based on military experience, maturity, stability, and leadership acquired over 20 years of service to our nation. To safeguard the viability of the JROTC program, the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Education endorse the proposition that states recognize that JROTC instructors are certified to teach JROTC and the array of subject areas embedded (e.g., Physical Education, Health/Wellness, Civics, etc.).

JROTC is a successful program, making substantial contributions to students, schools, and communities which benefit greatly from its presence. The benefits of JROTC are reflected in metrics impacting all schools in the U.S.

Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) is the Department of Defense (DOD) largest youth development program. JROTC serves as a character and leadership development program for our nation’s high school students. High school students enrolled in JROTC are called “Cadets.” There are approximately 3140,000 Cadets enrolled in JROTC in 1,731 high schools, led by 4,000 retired Army teachers. 

Creed
• I am an Army Junior ROTC Cadet.
• I will always conduct myself to bring credit to my family, country, school and the Corps of Cadets.
• I am loyal and patriotic.
• I am the future of the United States of America.
• I do not lie, cheat or steal and will always be accountable for my actions and deeds.
• I will always practice good citizenship and patriotism.
• I will work hard to improve my mind and strengthen my body.
• I will seek the mantle of leadership and stand prepared to uphold the Constitution and the American way of life.
• May God grant me the strength to always live by this creed.

HISTORY OF JROTC

The United States Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) came into being with the passage of the National Defense Act of 1916. Under the provisions of the Act, high schools were authorized the loan of federal military equipment and the assignment of active duty military personnel as instructors. In 1964, the Vitalization Act opened JROTC up to the other services and replaced most of the active duty instructors with retired members of the armed forces, who worked for and are cost shared by the schools.

Title 10 of the U.S. Code declares that "the purpose of Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps is to instill in students in United States secondary educational institutions the value of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment."

The study of ethics, citizenship, communications, leadership, life skills and other subjects designed to prepare young men and woman to take their place in adult society, evolved as the core of the program. More recently, an improved student centered curriculum focusing on character building and civic responsibility is being presented in every JROTC classroom.