*If I sign up for JROTC, will I be required to join the military?
No. A common misconception is that JROTC is a military organization, it isn't. It is an educational leadership development course. JROTC does not require any military obligation or otherwise. Joining the military is a purely voluntary and personal option.
"The mission of JROTC is to motivate young people to be better citizens," and every cadet knows that. If anything, the instructors encourage students to pursue college as the number one choice after High School. JROTC instructors and JROTC the program are not recruiters for any service branch.
*Am I required to wear a uniform while enrolled in JROTC?
Yes. Every student in JROTC wears their uniform once a week on Wednesday.
*Am I required to pay for my JROTC uniform?
No. Just by signing up for JROTC, a uniform will be provided to you by the program. There is no cost for uniform, ribbons, medals, belts, shoes, shirt, or pants.
* Are there any requirements to be met in order to sign up for JROTC?
No. JROTC is a course that is offered to everyone and anyone who wishes to take it. There are no requirements whatsoever. As stated above, the uniform will be provided for you, and you don’t need to learn anything until school starts.
*How does JROTC fit into my 4-year plan for high school?
There are two paths on High School, the University Path and the Technical Path. The University Path is for those who intend to go to college, and the Technical Path is for those who wish to go into a work field directly after High School such as auto repair, cosmology, and who most likely will take VOTEC. Regardless of which one you choose, JROTC will still be an option for you. Of the credits required to graduate from high school, one of them is called Lifetime Wellness and it makes up 1 credit on your 4 year plan. For that credit you can either take Wellness (which is half a semester of P.E. and half a semester of Health) or you can take JROTC for two years.
*Why should I take JROTC, when I can just take Lifetime Wellness for just a year?
There is no right answer to that question. Everyone who goes through JROTC has a different experience, different things they liked and disliked, just like any other class. A popular saying that we have in JROTC is “Your Experience is What You Make It,” and it is true. The only way to answer that is for you to see for yourself, over 125 students are in JROTC every year, so you’ll be in good company.
*Can I take JROTC for more than 2 years and still graduate?
Yes. Taking a third year of JROTC will count as your U.S. Government Credit, another credit that you must complete in order to graduate. A fourth year of JROTC will merely count as one of the three electives you need anyways to graduate.
*If I intend to join the military after high school, will being in JROTC help me?
Yes. The discipline and leadership experience you gain in JROTC reflect you as an individual, and that deserves merit. However, in order for you to gain the benefits of this recognition you will need at least three years of JROTC on your transcript. If you decide to enlist, you will automatically receive an increase in grade and rank; meaning that once you enter Basic Training, you will already be a Private First Class or E-3. However we do encourage you to first consider applying to a military academy or taking a Senior JROTC program in college to become an officer, as the benefits will be greater.
