JROTC Benefits in High School

group of young students in a cadet position

There are many benefits of being in JROTC in high school, whether you attend a military school or public school. The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program will make you smarter, more physically fit, help you build good character, and could even lead to ROTC college scholarships.

In this article, we will address what the Junior version of ROTC is all about, the many benefits of JROTC in public schools as well as military schools. We will also provide information about how to apply to JROTC programs and touch on the differences between JROTC in high school versus ROTC programs at the university-level.

If you’re interested in a life of scholarship and service, JROTC can be a great program for you. Basically, JROTC helps teenagers gain character attributes, leadership, and life skills they can apply in their education, career, and life. Cadets often report that JROTC helped them gain the “grit,” determination, and tenacity to hit their goals.

JROTC is a program for teens that is specifically sponsored by the United States Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force. To clarify, it is essential to note that being in JROTC does not obligate you in any way to enlist in the military. The junior-level program for high school students is about creating good citizens, whereas ROTC at the university level does have specific military service requirements.

Mission of JROTC: “To motivate young people to be better citizens.” – U.S. Army JROTC

What are the Benefits of JROTC?

Now, let’s turn to the many benefits of JROTC so you can understand why thousands of high school students take JROTC Leadership Education Training (LET) classes.

Improve academically – According to the Army JROTC – “There is actually a positive correlation between academic performance (GPA) and JROTC participation, typically better school attendance, and greater engagement in community service. Students who participate also have an opportunity to enhance college applications and benefit from scholarships.”

Improve your physical fitness – JROTC includes regular physical training (PT). This is to help students build up and maintain optimal health and fitness levels. If you attend a military boarding school, you will also do physical challenges as part of the leadership selection process and participate inathletics. For instance, The JROTC National Raider Challenge is the ultimate adventure sport and includes a 5K run, one-rope-bridge, obstacle courses, and more.

Receive leadership training – JROTC in high school provides stellar leadership training and character development, often modeled after West Point, Annapolis, and the other service academies. JROTC leadership training also entails learning how to be a good team player, communicate effectively and critical thinking. Additionally, at military boarding schools like Army and Navy Academy, you will receive ongoing mentorship as part of residential life.

Enjoy extracurriculars – JROTC students (aka “cadets”) have opportunities to participate in drill competitions, and join the color guard and rifle team. In addition, some military schools offer activities, clubs and classes tied to STEM and other interest areas. Some military academies for grades 7-12 even have maker spaces, student enrichment centers, aviation/drone programs and offer a wide variety of clubs.

Become a good citizen – In JROTC, you will learn about your individual responsibilities, rights, and the privileges of being an American citizen. Whether you want to be of service to your school, local community, or your nation, JROTC will involve you in various service learning projects. It should come as no surprise that cadets involved in JROTC have been shown to have greater engagement in community service. Projects may include Red Cross and food bank drives, recycling and environmental projects, and programs for the elderly or children.

Gain admission to college – Being in JROTC in high school will make you look good and help you to stand out on college applications. Leadership and other achievements can give you a competitive advantage to qualify for admission to top universities, as well as to the highly selective military service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point. U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA),, U.S. Air Force Space Command (ASFPC), U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA).

Receive scholarships – If you participate in a JROTC program, you become eligible for full-ride ROTC scholarships and paid positions at the five military service academies. For more information, check out “The AMVETS JROTC Scholarship”. As noted previously, unlike the Junior ROTC program (JROTC), ROTC universities and the military service academies do have a military service requirement.

Elevate standing in military service – If military service is your goal, high school students (with at least two years in JROTC) may begin their service one rank ahead of their peers. This puts you on track for more responsibility and higher rank and pay over time.

Develop good character – As noted by the U.S. News – “Leadership, character, and community service are the core tenets of high school Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs.” Army JROTC values include loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.

Career opportunities – JROTC can help students develop leadership skills while attending high school that are applicable to many professions, including careers such as: aviation/UAS, business, law, government, education, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

JROTC Programs in High School

Public Schools – Some public schools and school districts offer JROTC that lasts 2-4 years.. Search under “public schools with JROTC.” Speak with an academic counselor if you require assistance.

Charter Schools – If you are enrolled at a charter school or intend to apply, make sure they offer a JROTC program. For instance, in California, you will find a fairly short list if you search “charter schools with JROTC in California.”
Military Schools – Military high schools (aka “military academies”) in the U.S. integrate the JROTC program into all aspects of campus life and offer LET (Leadership Education Training) classes as part of the required curriculum.

How to Apply for JROTC

Military Schools – If you attend a military school, you will automatically be enrolled in leadership education training (LET) classes. In most cases, JROTC is a curriculum requirement at military boarding schools, and some even offer Junior ROTC beginning in middle school.

Public or Charter Schools – To join JROTC, look for leadership education training (LET) in your school’s class or elective offerings. Even if your school does not offer JROTC, high schools without their own JROTC program may have reciprocity agreements with nearby schools.

Explore Military Schools with JROTC: Feel free to contact us at Army and Navy Academy, located on a beachfront campus in Southern California’s Carlsbad Village. Army and Navy Academy is a college preparatory school with boarding and day options. Geared exclusively for boys in grades 7-12, we are a model school for boys in middle school and high school and are ranked in the top five boarding schools in California. If we’re not the right fit, we will make every effort to provide other information.