History

The United States Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) came into being with the passage of the National Defense Act of 1916. Under the provisions of the Act, high schools were authorized the loan of federal military equipment and the assignment of active duty military personnel as instructors. There was a condition that the instructors follow a prescribed course of training and maintain a minimum enrollment of 100 students over the age of 14 years who were US citizens. In 1964, the Vitalization Act opened JROTC up to the other services and replaced most of the active duty instructors with retirees who worked for and were cost shared by the schools.

Title 10 of the U.S. Code declares that "the purpose of Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps is to instill in students in United States secondary educational institutions the value of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment."

The JROTC Program has changed greatly over the years. Once looked upon primarily as a source of enlisted recruits and officer candidates, it became a citizenship program devoted to the moral, physical and educational uplift of American youth. Although the program retained its military structure and the resultant ability to infuse in its student cadets a sense of discipline and order, it shed most of its early military content.

The study of ethics, citizenship, communications, leadership, life skills and other subjects designed to prepare young men and woman to take their place in adult society, evolved as the core of the program. More recently, an improved student centered curriculum focusing on character building and civic responsibility is being presented in every JROTC classroom.

JROTC is a continuing success story. From a modest beginning of 6 units in 1916, JROTC has expanded to 1555 schools today and to every state in the nation and American schools overseas. Cadet enrollment has grown to 273,000 cadets with 3,900 professional instructors in the classrooms. Comprised solely of active duty Army retirees, the JROTC instructors serve as mentors developing the outstanding young citizens of our country.

Operation Young Citizen, the name given to the program, used to get high school students prepared for "success." In order to achieve this, the students had to complete certain objectives, which were:

• Develop leadership and patriotism.
• Develop informed and responsible citizens.
• Strengthen character.
• Acquaint students with the technical requirements of the modern age.
• Develop oral and written communication skills.
• Acquaint students with the history, purpose, and structure of military services, emphasizing the accomplishments of the U.S. Army.
• Develop an appreciation of the value of physical and mental fitness.
• Develop the basic skills necessary to work effectively as a team member.
• Provide the motivation and means to graduate from high school.
• Develop self-confidence, responsibility, and a respect for authority.

To obtain these results, the instructors had to use a curriculum that contained the following subjects:

• Introduction to JROTC	• Leadership and Leadership Lab
• Military history	• Cadet Challenge
• Technology	• Map reading
• Citizenship	• First aid
• Communications	• Drug awareness

Between 1916 and 1919, the Army established units at only 30 schools. About 45,000 students enrolled in JROTC during the 1919-1920 school year. San Diego High School was one of those schools. JROTC was introduced to San Diego High in 1919. San Diego High was the first school in the San Diego School District to introduce JROTC into the school system (SATC History). Now, there are 12 Battalions throughout the San Diego School District. These Battalions include the AFJROTC, the NJROTC and the AJROTC.

Now, the JROTC program focuses on preparing the students for the outside world by teaching them Leadership, Responsibility and Communication Skills. Their mission is

The students enrolled in JROTC participate in fun activities and events that help the community, and in competitions with other schools that teach them the value teamwork.