What Is ROTC & Why Is It Relevant?

Many students tend to shy away from participating in a JROTC program because they have no intention of joining the military after finishing high school. But what many students may not know is that JROTC teaches skills that colleges and employers want but aren’t typically taught in a high school curriculum. Regardless of your military intention, JROTC helps cultivate skills that position you better for success inside and outside the classroom. Read on to learn what the program is all about and how it can prepare you for academic and career success, and even help you pay for college.

The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) is a four-year program that was a result of the National Defense Act of 1916. America was preparing for World War I and needed a steady stream of qualified male teenage candidates that could enlist into military service as soldiers and officers in the U.S. Army. The program served the needs of the nation and various communities so well that it continued on and is still going strong today.

Under the 1964 Vitalization Act, Congress expanded the Army JROTC program to include all military branches – Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force. At this time, Congress also authorized the replacement of active duty personnel that served as instructors with retired military service personnel from active duty and the Reserves and National Guard instead. The next biggest change occurred in 1973 when women were given the opportunity to participate in JROTC programs.

The stated mission of JROTC is “motivating young people to be better citizens.” The vision of this Congress-mandated program is “to provide quality leadership, character, and leadership development, while fostering partnerships with communities and educational institutions.”

Many students think JROTC is a military-preparation program, but as you can see, its mission and vision doesn’t state that. Since the beginning, the purpose of the JROTC program has been to teach cadets leadership, geography, civics, health, global awareness, life skills and U.S. history. With this focus on leadership, core values, abilities and self-discipline, cadets are better positioned to function in life itself, even if they never go into the military.

The rank structure of a JROTC battalion usually mirrors that of an active duty unit. For example, a model Army JROTC battalion could be structured as:

A cadet battalion may contain additional positions and the list of duties for each position can vary. JROTC instructors determine the best positions and duties for each cadet based on the composition of the battalion. Cadets advance through the positions based on skill, abilities and experience.

The curriculum in a JROTC program is generally broken down into four modules called Leadership Education and Training or LET. Each military branch’s JROTC curriculum differs slightly. Below is an example from a U.S. Army JROTC curriculum to give you an idea of what’s covered in each LET:

The JROTC cadet uniform must be worn at least twice a month, but many programs have their cadets wear it once a week while in school, as well as when out in the community. Cadets who complete the four-year program can enlist after high school and enter recruit training at a higher rank (E-3 Private First Class instead of an E-1 Private).

While JROTC is not a military-preparation program, it does have some military overtones. In addition to regularly wearing a military-inspired uniform, there are also classes in physical fitness, drill instruction, military customs and courtesy, and military history – all of which are taught by retired military personnel.

Students join JROTC for various reasons – a personal goal, to follow in a family member’s footsteps, to help pay for college or to just be part of an organization that allows them to show their patriotism and desire to serve their country.

Some students, however, may be on the fence about joining. If you’re thinking of participating in your school’s JROTC program but aren’t certain, take some time to reflect on the following questions:

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, you may be a good candidate for the JROTC program. But regardless of whether you go into the military afterwards, the training you’ll receive while in JROTC is unmatched in public high schools and will serve you well for the rest of your life.

With more than 3,000 JROTC programs scattered across all military branches, there’s a good chance there’s a program at your high school or at one nearby. To join JROTC, look for it as an elective in your school’s class offerings. High schools without their own JROTC program often have reciprocity agreements with nearby schools that do offer JROTC, so students at a school without a program will be allowed to participate in a nearby school’s program. To see where JROTC programs are available, visit the websites below for more information:

The biggest benefit of participating in JROTC is that it teaches valuable life skills that many high schools don’t emphasize, and for some cadets, these skills aren’t taught at home either. For some cadets from the inner city, their instructors may be the only role models they have.

And because JROTC is funded by the military branches, it’s free to join (without any military obligation when finished). Even uniforms are provided for free. At no cost at all, JROTC cadets can gain:

These experiences can then be used while serving in the military, while in college or in almost any career in the real world.

JROTC can also help high school students stay focused and on track for graduation. According to 2014 data from the U.S. Army, JROTC cadets in Chicago, Detroit and rural Hawaii had higher graduation rates compared to their overall senior class:

Hubbard High School in Chicago graduated 96% of its JROTC cadets compared to 81% of the senior class overall

Renaissance High School in Detroit graduated 92.8% of its JROTC cadets compared to 65.5% of the senior class overall

Waianae High School in rural Hawaii continued its streak of graduating 100% of its cadets, while the overall class graduation rate was just 67%

Another big benefit to joining JROTC and ROTC is the financial aid these programs offer. Cadets can take full advantage of various scholarships to cover the cost of college. There are two main ways JROTC can help you pay for higher education:

School-Specific Scholarships

JROTC cadets can start earning school-specific scholarships as early as 9th grade. These scholarships cover the cost of an education at 260 different colleges. Select schools offer up to $6,000 for each year in a JROTC program. Cadets in leadership roles can get an additional $3,375 per year. And the best part – there isn’t an application process. The funds are automatically added to the student’s financial aid package for the selected participating college.

Students can also apply to outside scholarships, and because of the program’s leadership training, JROTC cadets have an advantage over other applicants. JROTC graduates are better prepared to study, take tests, set goals and focus on the task at hand – all qualities that colleges are looking for in scholarship recipients. And because these scholarships are awarded by the schools themselves, there’s no service commitment (e.g. no military service requirement or any requirement to join ROTC in college).

ROTC Scholarships

ROTC, the next step after JROTC, also offers tuition assistance. These scholarships are awarded by the military branch of the ROTC, which means they’re not restricted to a specific ROTC unit or college. They do, however, carry a military service requirement. All military service requirements incur an eight-year commitment, part of which is equal to the length of the scholarship. For example, acceptance of a four-year ARMY ROTC scholarship requires serving on active duty in the Army for four years. The remaining four years of the eight-year commitment is in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR).

Because ROTC wants to spend their scholarship money wisely, and is looking for the best of the best, they have some requirements for students applying for their scholarships. As an example, Army ROTC Scholarship applicants must:

Most of the branches have a specific scholarship application process. If in doubt, see your high school counselor and visit the individual branch’s website for more information. As an example, ARMY ROTC uses an online application for its scholarships, and applicants must start by creating an account at goarmy.com. A ROTC scholarship usually covers full tuition and fees, an allowance for books and a monthly stipend. The monthly stipend can range from $300 a month for a college freshman to $500 a month for a senior. The monthly stipend is capped at $5,000 per year, but with 9-month academic years, the cap likely won’t be reached in any one year.

Students who are interested in joining ROTC but don’t want a contract and military commitment can do so for the first two years. Whether you complete the full program or not, the benefits of participating in college ROTC include:

For high school graduates who completed a JROTC program, getting into ROTC will be a familiar process. Like JROTC, ROTC is an elective you can enroll in when signing up for college classes. Once enrolled, you’ll be issued a military uniform and are required to wear it at specific times – usually at least once a week and at special events. However, unlike JROTC, ROTC cadets must adhere to rigorous and regimented physical fitness, grooming and behavioral standards that are similar to military requirements. ROTC cadets who aren’t on a scholarship program can participate up to two years without incurring any military obligation.

If not already committed on scholarship by their junior year, ROTC cadets are usually asked to commit to a legal binding contract that incurs a military commitment. Most commitments require a minimum of three or four years on active duty service with the rest of the 8-year total commitment in the IRR.

For Coast Guard JROTC cadets, the process of transitioning to ROTC is a little different. While the Coast Guard has a JROTC program, it does not have an official ROTC program. Instead, it has cadets go through a College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative or CSPI. Highly motivated students that demonstrate a high caliber of academic and leadership abilities can apply for this program. Applicants must be accepted to a bachelor’s degree program at a qualifying college.

Once accepted, students enlist into the Coast Guard and complete basic training during the summer. In return, they receive full funding for up to two years of college. This aid covers tuition, fees, books, housing, medical benefits and a full-time Coast Guard salary for the two years while in the program. After graduating and completing CSPI, students are commissioned as an Ensign (O-1) and receive their first duty assignment.

Many students have questions before committing to a JROTC or ROTC program. Below are a few of the most frequently asked questions and answers: