Building Citizens Through Leadership
The U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is one of the most impactful youth character development programs in the world. Since its inception in 1916 and expansion in 1964, JROTC has worked to cultivate citizenship, service, and personal responsibility across thousands of high schools and institutions.
Its guiding mission: “To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens.”
The Army JROTC Curriculum
Accredited by Cognia since 2005, the curriculum is built on a four-part learning model designed to motivate, educate, and empower Cadets. Lessons emphasize collaboration, reflection, and critical thinking through content areas like leadership, wellness, geography, history, communication, and emotional intelligence.
High schools may grant academic credit for JROTC courses, aligning them with Common Core and Career & Technical Education standards.
Technology Integration
Cadets and instructors use the Curriculum Manager (CM) and Turning Technologies clickers for interactive assessments and instruction. Outside the classroom, tools like Conover Online help Cadets grow emotional intelligence via mobile devices.
JROTC Co-Curricular Activities
Cadets apply their classroom skills through activities like military drill competitions, Raider Challenge, JLAB, STEM Camp, and the JCLC physical fitness challenge. Completion of all four years positions Cadets for college and career readiness.
College Opportunities
With help from the College Options Foundation, Cadets find schools offering credit for JROTC participation. Army ROTC also provides scholarship opportunities for eligible applicants.
College Options
Army ROTC Info
National Impact
JROTC exceeds high school averages across five key indicators: attendance, graduation, indiscipline, dropouts, and GPA. It remains one of the most effective youth programs in U.S. history.
| Category | School Avg | JROTC |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance | 87.5% | 91.3% |
| Graduation | 50% | 66% |
| Indiscipline | 2.6% | <1% |
| Drop Out | <1% | <1% |
| GPA | 2.23 | 2.50 |
Continuous Improvement
JROTC’s JPA evaluation ensures ongoing excellence and accountability through Cognia’s Standards of Quality — measuring real progress across Cadets and instructors.
