The Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) is an exciting program offered to high school students that teaches character education, student achievement, health and wellness, leadership and diversity. The program is jointly conducted through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Defense and our school district.
In addition to promoting citizenship, JROTC also prepares students for postsecondary options including college or
the workforce. Through cadet-run programs and team competitions, students learn invaluable professional skills like leadership, teamwork, time-management, self-discipline and communication.
Vision, Mission, Values
Vision
"Providing a quality citizenship, character, and leadership development program, while fostering partnerships with communities and educational institutions."
Mission
"To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens"
Values
Character - Social Responsibility - Student Achievement - Fitness - Leadership - Teamwork - Selfless Service - US Heritage and History
Program Overview
Description
Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is the largest youth program, with an accredited curriculum, in high school. It serves as a character and leadership development program for our nation’s high school students. High school students enrolled in JROTC are “Cadets.” There are approximately 314,000 Cadets enrolled in JROTC in 1,731 high schools, led by 4,000 retired Army Instructors.
The program's focus is reflected in its mission statement, To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens. "It is a purpose of the Junior Reserve Officer's Training Corps to instill in students in United States secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States, and personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment." (USC Title 10) The program is a stimulus for promoting graduation from high school, and it provides instruction and rewarding opportunities that will benefit the student, community, and nation.
This program’s design focuses on the development of better citizens by building skills in leadership, personal growth and behaviors, citizenship, decision making, health and fitness, first aid, team building, service learning, and geography; all within a student-centered learning environment. The JROTC program is a cooperative effort between the Army and the host school.
Accreditation Information
The Army JROTC program is accredited by AdvancED, which was created through a merger of the Pre-K-12 divisions of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI); the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI); and the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC). Having a program accredited by AdvancED means JROTC has demonstrated a commitment to student performance and continuous improvement in education. JROTC earned its accredited status by adhering to five quality standards:
Standard 1- Purpose and Direction
Standard 2- Governance and Leadership
Standard 3- Teaching and Assessing for Learning
Standard 4- Resources and Support Systems
Standard 5- Using Results for Continuous Improvement
Curriculum
LET 1 – The Emerging Leader
First year Cadets are introduced to content that will help the inner leader begin to emerge.
Chapter 1: JROTC Foundations introduces Cadets to the mission of the program and how it helps prepare personal success and citizenship. They are exposed to the traditions, organizational structure, and disciplines of JROTC and begin putting into practice customs and courtesies important in the program.
Chapter 2: Personal Growth and Behaviors focuses on the Cadet. In this chapter they take a close look at personal behavioral preferences, interpersonal skills and abilities, and strategies to help build personal success -- in the high school classroom, the JROTC program, and the Cadet's community.
Chapter 3: Team Building introduces Cadets to the discipline and structure of military drill. The individual role responding to commands and moving with precision is essential when participating in drill exercises at future competitions or community events.
Chapter 4: Decision Making introduces Cadets to a process and system for addressing goals and handling conflict, both internal and with others.
Chapter 5: Health and Fitness looks at stress and its effect on health. Cadets will examine ways to address and manage stress in life. Physical fitness is one effective strategy for maintaining health and is an essential component of this JROTC program through Cadet Challenge.
Chapter 6: Service Learning is a required element of the JROTC program. In LET 1, Cadets learn the features and benefits of service learning for the community, one's self, and the JROTC program.
LET 2 – Developing Leader
LET 2 – Developing Leader builds upon the mastery of LET 1 skills and abilities, providing Cadets with new and more challenging opportunities in leadership development.
Chapter 1: Leadership introduces Cadets to the elements of leadership, encouraging the analysis of personal leadership attributes and their relationship to program goals. As well, Cadets examine their own leadership competencies and style and the role they play in teams.
Chapter 2: Personal Growth and Behaviors focuses on the communication. Good leaders are effective communicators. Writing, listening, and speaking are essential outcomes in this learning module. Communication also supports personal confidence and Cadets will begin to see how their strengths relate to their vocational interests and begin to explore post-secondary options. Finally, Cadets examine the role ethics plays in leadership and how core values effect their personal code of conduct.
Chapter 3: Team Building introduces new challenges and opportunities for team and squad drill leaders. As leadership develops, so does discipline and team building, demonstrated regularly in drill and ceremony activities.
Chapter 4: First Aid exposes Cadets to the citizen’s role in helping others during an emergency. This learning module helps Cadets identify emergency situations and the universal precautions to address them. Additionally, Cadets will explain first aid response to common and severe emergencies.
Chapter 5: Decision Making uses the model for making good choices and decisions to situations that involve bullying and violence. Cadet leaders take a stance against bullying and encourage others to make those same good choices.
Chapter 6: Health and Fitness focuses on nutrition, body image, and the elements of good health. In this learning module, Cadets use decision-making and goal setting in their plans for life-long health. Cadets strive for physical fitness goals through Cadet Challenge and regular program exercise, as possible.
Chapter 7: Service Learning provides LET 2 Cadets an opportunity to participate, but also evaluate the effectiveness of a service learning project. Participating in after action reviews with teams and making decisions toward continuous improvement of service to others are hallmarks of this unit.
Chapter 8: Citizenship and Government introduces Cadets to the purpose of government and the role of the U.S. Constitution on democracy and the rights of its citizens.
LET 3 – The Supervising Leader
LET 3 - Supervising Leader builds upon the mastery of LET 1 and 2 skills and abilities, providing Cadets with new and more challenging opportunities as a leader by overseeing planning, project implementation, and team personnel. Cadets at this level can acquire battalion staff positions and responsibilities and help integrate improvements in the local JROTC program and community.
Chapter 1: Leadership looks at the command and staff roles and their relationship to leadership in the battalion and with battalion projects. Cadets evaluate their personal management skills and help prepare and lead meetings and continuous improvement plans as supervisors.
Chapter 2: Personal Growth and Behaviors focuses on personal planning and management, looking at opportunities after high school and making plans for college, military, or workplace.
Chapter 3: Team Building provides Cadets an opportunity to earn duties and responsibilities of a platoon leader or sergeant and execute platoon drill.
Chapter 4: Decision Making provides Cadets leadership development opportunity to use strategies for neutralizing prejudice in relationships and negotiate an agreement.
Chapter 5: Health and Fitness takes a hard look at the effectives of substance use and abuse on health. While examining the influences that impact teen culture today, Cadets take a leadership stance on their response to substances such as tobacco, alcohol and drug use. In this course, Cadets explore response strategies for substance abuse situations.
Chapter 6: Service Learning projects often lie in the hands of upper class men and women to lead service learning initiatives for the JROTC program. In this learning module, Cadet will create a service learning plan, helping to organize teams and their roles in the project schedule.
Chapter 7: Citizenship and Government will look deeper at the citizen’s role in society as contribution to a strong community.
LET 4 – The Managing Leader
LET 4 - Managing Leader provides Cadets multiple opportunities to manage and lead in the battalion, in the school, and their respective communities The LET 4 Cadet is ready to assume responsibilities and manage him or herself and others whom they work with or oversee as a Cadet manager.
Chapter 1: Leadership looks closely the leadership role in continuous improvement, recognizing team attitudes that contribute achieving personal and battalion goals. LET 4 Cadets are mentors and leaders to younger Cadets and work with Instructors and other Cadets on lesson development and delivery. Leaders encourage feedback from their subordinates and teammates.
Chapter 2: Personal Growth and Behaviors encourages the LET 4 Cadet to look beyond high school into adulthood. Cadets are challenged to identify personal management and accountability strategies and develop a plan for professional and personal success.
Chapter 3: Team Building provides LET 4 Cadets an opportunity to apply motivation strategies to teams and use effective communication models to provide feedback to others for encouragement and improvement. Drill leadership opportunities include executing company and battalion drills.
Chapter 4: Service Learning provides LET 4 Cadets an opportunity to manage a service learning project, using several project management tools.
Chapter 5: Citizenship and Government will examine how competing principles and values challenge the fundamental principles of society. Cadets develop solutions for future challenges to citizen rights.
LET 5 – Elective/Continuing Education for Leaders
Let 5 - Serves to support and enhance existing LET 1-4 units of core curriculum or an elective program. It contains additional content to help craft a customized elective course or further support JROTC core skills and abilities.
Chapter 1: Team Building exposes you to the standards and criteria for additional and unique drill procedures. Learn about stationary movements while performing rifle drill, and executing the manual of arms with saber and scabbard.
Chapter 2: National Endowment for Financial Education - High School Financial Planning Program exposes you to the valuable topics pertaining to planning and implementing sound financial practices as a high school student. NEFE provides the curriculum materials on their website free of charge. Lessons address planning for financial goals, budgets, savings and investments, credit and insurance.
Chapter 3: First Aid supports LET core by expanding on first aid treatments. This chapter includes basic treatments for shock and fractures, burns, poisons, wounds, bruises, heat and cold injuries, and bites, stings, poisounous hazards. It also indentifies types of bleeding and treatment protocols for bleeding victims.
Chapter 4: Geography explores maps! You'll start with an introduction to basic map reading to exploring the tools for calculated location and direction on topographic maps. You'll also relate map reading to orienteering.
Chapter 5: Citizenship and Government exposes you to the challenges that face fundamental principles of society today. Topics in this chapter will encourage you, as a citizen, to think about rights as they relate to the US Constitution. Content was provided by The Center for Civic Education's We The People: The Citizen & the Constitution.
Chapter 6: Cadet Safety and Civilian Marksmanship Program introduces you to the basic skills necessary for target rifle shooting. Objectives of this program are to teach you how to handle guns safely and develop skills of sport target shooting and competition as a member of a JROTC rifle team. Content in this chapter is used with permission granted by the Civilian Marksmanship Program.
Accreditation with Distinction
2022 School of Distinction Award
Cognia congratulates Army Junior ROTC for earning the 2022 School of Distinction Award. The Schools of Distinction program recognizes schools and systems that truly stand out in their service to learners, as demonstrated in meeting the Cognia Performance Standards.
Across the world, educators dedicate themselves to maximizing opportunities for learners. This award, launched in 2021, recognizes institutions in the year of their accreditation review for excelling in their implementation of high-quality learning, organizational effectiveness, and commitment to continuous improvement.
Again, congratulations on this achievement. Thank you for your commitment to providing highquality education to learners!
Cognia Chief Global Accreditation Officer
