JROTC is a prestigious program that is usually only offered at large school districts,” shares Jim McGrath, the JROTC liaison at Jefferson-Morgan High School. Because it is a smaller school, Jefferson-Morgan normally would not have the ability to offer the program; the school’s superintendent, Joe Orr, initiated the program at J-M by integrating with Albert Gallatin’s established program and it was added to J-M during the 2017-18 school year.
The Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) uses a military setting to teach students about life skills and character traits. In studies about the importance of the JROTC, researchers agree students, faculty and the surrounding community all benefit from the existence of these programs.
A common misconception about the JROTC is that only students planning to join the military will benefit from the program. “Some students may be looking to find their niche, because they are not involved in athletics, music, or other school activities. For these students, JROTC can provide an outlet for them to strive,” says Jim. If a student does join the military after high school, the JROTC gives them the opportunity to be sworn in at a higher rank. This head start can lead to increased pay and quicker promotions.
One of the fundamental goals of the JROTC is to motivate students to be better citizens. Being in the JROTC can help build character and strengthen leadership skills. According to the Jefferson-Morgan website there is “an emphasis on character education, student achievement, wellness, leadership and diversity. It is a cooperative effort on the part of the military services and host institutions to produce successful students and citizens, while fostering in each school a more constructive and disciplined learning environment.” JROTC cadets are involved in community projects such as placing American flags on veterans’ graves for Veterans Day and Memorial Day; the JROTC also does bell ringing for the Salvation Army.
Students must have good grades and principled discipline in order to join. They need to fill out an application with a written statement of 250 words minimum explaining why they want to be part of the JROTC and what serving their country means to them. The Department of the Army lists some goals for the JROTC cadet training as developing citizenship and patriotism, self-reliance and responsiveness to authority, respect for the role of the U.S. Armed Forces, team building skills, and ranking higher if they choose to pursue a military career.
The JROTC program has dealt with the challenges of COVID-19 by adjusting to requirements and changes. “Currently, Albert Gallatin is on a cyber-learning schedule and J-M is on a hybrid schedule,” Jim says. “The J-M JROTC students have been logging in every day and receiving instruction via Zoom and Canvass.”
Joining the JROTC is free of charge, and the uniforms, equipment and supplies are all issued by the U.S. Army. JROTC benefits the future of anyone who joins. Those who choose to go to the military are accelerating towards their goals and students who choose to go on to college have many leadership and character scholarships for which they are qualified.