HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR ROTC FACTS
JUNIOR ROTC IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF COURSE THAT IS BOTH INTERESTING AND FUN. THIS SHEET WILL HELP TO EXPLAIN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT UNIQUE.
WHAT IS JROTC? The Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or JROTC Program, includes full credit elective courses which provide interesting classroom instruction combined with the opportunity to serve the school and community, participate in extra-curricular activities, enjoy active social programs, and have the opportunity for early leadership responsibilities. For students desiring to do so, JROTC may be substituted for the PE courses required for graduation.
WHAT EXACTLY IS TAUGHT IN CLASS? The material covered in JROTC varies throughout the year, with short segments on a variety of topics related to leadership, the armed forces and the nation. In Navy JROTC, for example, there are segments on U.S. Maritime history, navigation, leadership, world geography, health science, naval customs, oceanography, first aid, astronomy, sailing, basic electricity, and electronics. The Army JROTC curriculum includes such topics as U.S. Military history, personal hygiene, human relations, staff functions and procedures, first aid, military map reading, techniques of oral communications, marksmanship, orienteering, drill and ceremony, and civil defense. The Air Force JROTC Program of instruction covers such exciting topics as principles of flight, propulsion systems, and weather space travel, and exploration; and civil aviation and aerospace vehicles.
WILL I BE IN THE ARMED FORCES OR WILL I HAVE TO GO INTO THE SERVICE? Of Course NOT! There is absolutely no obligation of any kind, and most students have no Interest in going into the military after graduation. For those who are interested, however, there are some very real benefits.
WHAT ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS, ARE THEY IN THE ARMED FORCES? No. JROTC teachers are retired military officers and senior non-commissioned officers. They are high school faculty members and employees of the Houston Independent School District like all other teachers, but are certified by their respective service branch to teach JROTC.
WHAT DOES THE COURSE COST? There are no special costs associated with this course. Course materials, uniforms, supplies, equipment and most other costs are covered by the military or the school. Personal items such as undergarments and such things as meals on field trips are not covered. Fund raising projects are scheduled as needed to raise funds for special equipment and projects.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS I CAN GAIN FROM THE COURSE? Aside from normal benefits of a good high school course, there are some very real benefits for those who want to take advantage of them.
(1) All the military services give up to two pay grades (two ranks) advanced standing for people who enlist after having successfully completed Junior ROTC courses in high school.
(2) Many colleges give advance standing and credit for completion of the JROTC program to students who are enrolled in college ROTC.
(3) For those who are interested In fully paid college scholarships and those seeking Service Academy appointments, JROTC Instructors have been very successful each year in helping high school students obtain ROTC scholarships and Service Academy appointments. Scholarships worth up to $50,000.00 each and Service Academy appointments worth up to $200,000.00 each are awarded to qualified high school students annually.
WHAT KIND OF CREDIT CAN I GET FOR JROTC? The course carried full elective credit toward graduation, just like all the other academic courses. In addition, JROTC may be substituted for Physical Education or may be taken as an additional elective in conjunction with Physical Education to meet graduation requirements.
ARE BOTH GIRLS AND BOYS ENROLLED? Yes, up to about half of the classes are made up of girls. Leadership positions are available to both sexes equally.
DO I WEAR A UNIFORM? A custom fitted uniform is provided free and is worn once a week on the school’s designated uniform day. It is an honor to wear the uniform and that honor is not treated lightly.
DO BOYS HAVE TO GET A SHORT HAIRCUT? Boys’ hair must be neatly trimmed and meet minimum dress code standards established by the school; however, it need not be “white-walled.” Some of the extracurricular teams may have their own stricter requirements for competitions, but participation on those teams and meeting their requirements are optional.
CAN I STILL GO OUT FOR BAND AND VARSITY SPORTS? Certainly. JROTC students are active in every phase of the school from varsity football to band, chorus and student government. Whenever possible, JROTC extra-curricular group practices are scheduled so as not to conflict with other practices and meetings.
HOW MUCH TIME DOES JROTC TAKE? You can spend as much or as little time in JROTC as you want. You must go to class just like your other courses, but activities like drill team, color guard, marksmanship teams, and social events are optional. They are there for you if your grades allow and you want to participate. Certainly, the more involved you are, the more benefit you are likely to get from the course.
TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE TO JROTC STUDENTS? The JROTC unit supports a wide range of activities, with the exact number depending on the interests of the students. There are too many possible activities to cover in detail in one short fact sheet. Mentioned above are things like fancy competition drill teams, marksmanship teams, and color guard. There are summer camps; there are group-sponsored social activities: there is an annual formal military ball: there are trips locally and to distant places which are not only interesting but fun as well; and there are numerous other ways to become involved and to have fun.
WHAT WILL MY FRIENDS SAY WHEN I WEAR THE UNIFORM IN SCHOOL? It is human nature to notice something new about a person you know and this certainly applies to JROTC students. JROTC is a popular and respected organization in the school, so the minor ‘self-consciousness” caused by wearing something different is seldom a problem for long.
WHAT KIND OF RECOGNITION CAN I GET FOR MY PARTICIPATION IN JROTC? There are a large number of awards which are given for participation and achievement in JROTC. Some are given by the unit, some by the school, and others by local civic and patriotic groups. All are available for everyone to seek. Involvement, efforts, and being an active part of the group are the main requirements.
WHAT ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING? JROTC is the only formal course of instruction in the district which has formal instruction in leadership. The course also encourages practical application by giving the students the opportunity to run their extra-curricular groups and manage many aspects of the JROTC Program.
I’M GOING TO COLLEGE. IS THIS GOOD PREPARATION? JROTC course material is academically sound and enhances the college preparatory curriculum. JROTC is always well represented in the ranks of the National Honor Society, National Merit Scholarship, and other scholarship winners.
WHAT SCHOOLS IN HISD OFFER ROTC? There are Twenty-five (25) HISD High Schools and one (1) Middle School that offer JROTC as elective courses. Twenty-one (21) have Army JROTC, three (3) have Navy JROTC, and one (1) has Air Force JROTC. Army JROTC is offered at Austin, Davis, Furr, Sam Houston, Jones, Barbara Jordan, Kashmere, Lamar, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Lee, Milby, Reagan, Waltrip, Wheatley and Worthing. Navy JROTC is offered at Madison, Sterling, and Washington. Air Force JROTC is offered at Westbury.
WHAT IF I AM NOT ZONED FOR ONE OF THE TWENTY-FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS THAT HAVE JROTC? You may request to attend the school of your choice that has a JROTC Program by submitting a Special Transfer Request Form to the principal of the high school in which you are zoned to attend to enroll in JROTC should be stated as your reason for transfer.
HOW CAN I ENROLL? If you are in the 8th grade and will be enrolled In high school the coming school year; are making satisfactory progress in school: will be at least 14 years old by the end of the first ser ester of high school: have no serious medical problems: and are a U.S. Citizen, all you have to do Is list JROTC on your course selection card. If all academic and other requirements are met, you will be enrolled. Ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade students desiring to enroll in JROTC the next year, should inform one of the on- campus JROTC instructors or your counselor that you would like to enroll in JROTC.
WHAT IF I ENROLL AND DON’T LIKE IT? You shouldn’t sign up for a course you do not want; however, it is sometime difficult to know about something new. If you find that JROTC is not for you, your counselor and the JROTC teachers will work together to find you an alternative course. You should, however, give careful consideration to the requirements of the JROTC course before you enroll because schedule changes are a poor substitute for advance planning. Any schedule changes will have to be made before the third week of the semester.
I WANT MORE INFORMATION! Your new high school counselor or one of the high school JROTC teachers can answer all your questions. There is someone in the JROTC office before and after school, throughout the weekday, twelve (12) months a year.