Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps

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File:NYMA AFI Marching.jpg
New York Military Academy Army JROTC cadets at Annual Formal Inspection in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York.

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) is a program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools across the United States. The program was originally created as part of the National Defense Act of 1916 and was later expanded under the 1964 ROTC Vitalization Act.[1]

Role and purpose

According to Title 10, Section 2031 of the United States Code, "It is a purpose of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps to instill in students in United States secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States, and personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment."[2] Additional purposes and objectives are established by the departments of the several armed forces. Under Section 542.4 of Title 32 (National Defense) of the Code of Federal Regulations, the Department of the Army has declared those objectives for each cadet to be:

  • Developing good citizenship and patriotism.
  • Developing self-reliance, leadership, and responsiveness to constituted authority.
  • Improving the ability to communicate well both orally and in writing.
  • Developing an appreciation of the importance of physical fitness.
  • Increasing a respect for the role of the US Armed Forces in support of national objectives.
  • Developing a knowledge of basic military skills.

Section 524.5 of the CFR National Defense title states in part that JROTC should "provide meaningful leadership instruction of benefit to the student and of value to the Armed Forces. ... Students will acquire: (1) An understanding of the fundamental concept of leadership, military art and science, (2) An introduction to related professional knowledge, and (3) An appreciation of requirements for national security. The dual roles of citizen/soldier and soldier/citizen are studied. ... These programs will enable cadets to better serve their country as leaders, as citizens, and in military service should they enter it. ... The JROTC and NDCC are not, of themselves, officer-producing programs but should create favorable attitudes and impressions toward the Services and toward careers in the Armed Forces."

The US military frequently asserts that they are not actively recruiting from JROTC students.[citation needed] The military has stated that JROTC will inform young Americans about the opportunities available in the military and "may help motivate young Americans toward military service."[3] An Army policy memorandum states that JROTC is not precluded from "facilitating the recruitment of young men and women into the U.S. Army," directing instructors to "actively assist cadets who want to enlist in the military [and] emphasize service in the U.S. Army; facilitate recruiter access to cadets in JROTC program and to the entire student body ... [and] work closely with high school guidance counselors to sell the Army story."[4] Former United States Secretary of Defense William Cohen referred to JROTC as "one of the best recruitment programs we could have."[5]

In a February 2000 testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, the armed service chiefs of staff testified that 30%–50% of graduating JROTC cadets go on to join the military:

General Colin Powell admitted in his 1995 autobiography that "the armed forces might get a youngster more inclined to enlist as a result of Junior ROTC," but added that "Inner-city kids, many from broken homes, found stability and role models in Junior ROTC."[7] US Congress found in the Recruiting, Retention, and Reservist Promotion Act of 2000 that JROTC and similar programs "provide significant benefits for the Armed Forces, including significant public relations benefits."[8]

Organization

Army JROTC Insignia
File:Afjrotc.JPG
Air Force JROTC Insignia

Each branch of the US Armed Forces maintains a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, organized into units. As of June 2006, there are a total of 3,229 units:

In 1967, Congress increased the total number of units authorized to be established from 1,200 to 1,600. In 1992, Congress expanded the maximum number of JROTC units to 3,500; The statutory limitation on the number of units was struck from the law in 2001.[13]

File:NJROTC.png
Navy JROTC Insignia

Units are set up according to the layout of their parent service. Army and Marine Corps JROTC units follow the battalion structure. Air Force JROTC units are composed structurally based on size (wing if more than 251 cadets, group if more than 101, squadron if more than 51). Navy JROTC also typically follows the company (100-149 cadets), battalion (150-299 cadets), or regiment (300+ cadets) structure depending on the size of the unit.

DoD Budget[14] FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
AJROTC 125,894 135,166 141,416
NJROTC 39,798 39,743 42,875
MCJROTC 13,807 13,115 16,905
AFJROTC 44,747 47,518 57,573
Total US $1000 224,246 235,542 256,769

JROTC is partly funded by the United States Department of Defense with an allocation in the military budget of about 340 million dollars for the fiscal year 2007, of which about 68 million are personnel costs.[15] The Federal Government subsidizes instructor salaries, cadet uniforms, equipment and textbooks. The instructors, usually retired military personnel, continue to receive retirement pay from the Federal government, but in addition, the schools pay the difference from what the instructors would receive if they were on active duty. The service concerned then reimburses the school for approximately one-half of the amount paid by the school to the instructor. The school has to pay for any health benefits that the retired service member will receive and the security systems required to store firearms on school campuses.[3]

File:USMCJROTC.png
Marine Corps JROTC Insignia
Coast Guard JROTC Insignia

Although active duty officers may be assigned, most instructors are retired from the sponsoring branch of the Armed Forces. In the Army JROTC program, the cadet unit at each school is directed by at least one retired commissioned officer (in the grade of Second Lieutenant through Colonel) or a warrant officer (WO1 through CW5) and at least one retired noncommissioned officer (in the grade of Sergeant First Class through Sergeant Major). In certain situations there may be additional instructors. Retired general or flag officers are generally not permitted to work as JROTC instructors.[citation needed] Neither are retired National Guard personnel permitted to work as JROTC instructors.[citation needed] A new provision from the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Section 540) was signed into law in October 2006, permitting retired Reserve officers and noncommissioned officers to be hired as instructors.

There are no national requirements that JROTC instructors have the teaching credential required by other teachers in public high school.[16] In at least one jurisdiction (California), the government requires JROTC instructors to have at least four years of military experience and possess a high school diploma or equivalent.[17] AJROTC instructors need to be within one year of retirement or retired from active military service for three or fewer years [4]. MCJROTC instructors need to have graduated from high school, have at least 20 years of active military service and be physically qualified according to Marine Corps standards [5]. AFJROTC requires minimum 20 years of active duty; Officer instructors need to have a minimum of a bachelors degree, while a high school diploma or equivalent is sufficient for enlisted instructors.[18] NJROTC also requires a minimum of 20 years of active military duty; the minimum education requirement for an instructor is a high school diploma or equivalent, with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university required for a senior instructor [6]. The Navy requires that JROTC instructors be employees of the school and that they are accorded the same status as other school faculty members.[19]

The National Defense Cadet Corps (NDCC) offers similar programs as JROTC. NDCC units differ from JROTC in that they receive little or no financial support from the Armed Forces; uniforms, equipment, other materials and instructor salaries must normally be furnished by the school hosting an NDCC program.[20]

Except for the funding aspects, JROTC and NDCC programs are virtually identical, although the cadet corps is not limited by the federal statute that restricts JROTC to offering courses only for students in ninth through 12th grades.[21] Per 2005, Chicago had 26 Middle School Cadet Corps enlisting more than 850 kids.[22]

Instruction and activities

The Code of Federal Regulations states that JROTC is "designed for physically fit citizens attending participating schools"[7]. In public schools, JROTC is usually an elective course with membership limited to US citizens and legal foreign nationals, those who will graduate with their 9th grade corhort, and have not experienced an out of school suspension during the preceding 6 month period. Boarding schools or (pre-college) military schools may offer JROTC programs, with some requiring participation as a condition for acceptance to the school. Often, students will participate for one year receive credit in lieu of a physical education class. Students who excel in the first year of JROTC can apply for a second year. Most schools offer three to four years of JROTC training.

The JROTC program stresses military discipline[23][24], with a curriculum that emphasizes study of military science and military history.[8] Cadets typically wear their uniforms once or twice a week, usually standing for inspection, with the exception being those cadets who attend a JROTC-based military academy. Many cadets participate in extracurricular activities such as drill, color guard, marksmanship, rocketry or orienteering. During the school year, there are regional competitions between JROTC units, with testing in all areas of military, naval and aerospace science. Some units organize special visits to US military bases during school breaks. There are also many summertime "leadership academies" for cadets hosted by various military installations.[25]

Many units also host an annual military ball where cadets put on their best dress uniforms (see related article mess dress) and gather together for a formal dinner. Usually awards are presented, speeches are given, and in many respects the occasion is like a second "prom" for juniors and seniors; sophomores and freshman are also allowed to attend the Military Ball. Female cadets are generally not required to wear the dress uniform for military ball, but some do so voluntarily.

Sometimes units also have a separate awards ceremony, which is attended by the instructors, guests, and parents. Fraternal organizations, such as the American Legion, often give out awards for military excellence, academics, and citizenship, in addition to the standard awards given by the JROTC program.

The year may be finished with a change of command ceremony, where the new unit commander, executive officer, and other unit officers are named and take command from the current officers. Mid-level officers are also named. Some units choose the next year's NCO and junior officer corps based on officer and NCO candidate schools, usually held immediately following the end of the school year.

Successful completion of the program (usually 2-4 years of classes) can lead to advanced rank upon enlistment in the Armed Forces.[26][27] For example, upon completion of 4 years of Air Force JROTC, cadets may at their instructor's discretion enlist in the Air Force at the rank of Airman First Class (E-3). [9] However, JROTC participation incurs no obligation to join the military.[10]

Opposition to JROTC

Controversy has erupted in recent years about JROTC and militarism in schools. The American Friends Service Committee, the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, Veterans for Peace,[28] and the Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities, actively oppose the JROTC for a number of reasons, including:

  • Military recruiting — Some organizations campaigning against the JROTC have alleged that it is essentially a dressed-up military recruitment program.[29] The Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors writes that though as many as 50% of Army JROTC students continue with Army programs, 70% of that group enlists directly into the lowest rank of the military, Private. They also claim large numbers of program graduates enlist in the military and end up worse off economically than non-veterans.[30]
  • Discrimination — The Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors states that potential instructors are screened for homosexuality, in breach of federal anti-discrimination laws, and prohibits those with disabilities and those without legal immigration papers from being instructors or participants in the program, violating federal law.[31]
  • High cost — The American Friends Service Committee has found that local school districts end up paying substantially more than the cost estimate the military provides, and that a JROTC program costs more on a per-pupil basis than academic, non-military instruction.[32] According to CCCO, some cities have to pay as much as $136,000 annually per unit to finance their JROTC programs.[11]
  • Lack of local control — The Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors cites lack of local control as an issue. The curriculum is dictated by military, and the military controls all of the screening processes for instructors. If a school feels that there is a problem with the curriculum or an instructor, there is nothing they can do to remedy the problem other than stop the program[33].
  • Low-quality curriculum — Another concern of The Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors is that the content of the JROTC textbooks is substandard learning material, with factual distortions and outdated methods of teaching.[34] A study from 1995 paid for by the American Friends Service Committee cites several examples of statements in the curriculum found to be discriminatory toward minority groups like as Arabs, Native Americans, and homosexuals.[35] The analysis argues that the curriculum narrows the viewpoint of the students, encourage blind following rather than critical thinking, and indoctrinates students in militaristic authoritarian loyalty and passivity.[36] Veterans for Peace resolved that teaching students that the government gives the citizens its rights "is a complete perversion of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence."[37]
  • Promotion of violence — Promotion of violence is one of the biggest objections many groups have to the JROTC. The Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors cite anecdotes of JROTC members engaging in crime sprees, robbery, vandalism, and even murder.[38] There have been several cases of JROTC students committing violent acts[12][13], such as two Arizona JROTC members who dressed in fatigues and killed nine Buddhist monks after looting their temple.[14][15]

The Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools, formed by more than 50 teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District,[39] aims to "eliminate the Junior Reserves Officer Training Corp in our High Schools."[40] Many cases of abuse by JROTC instructors, as well as credentialing issues, and of having students forced into JROTC due to lack of space in Physical Education classes have been noted in Los Angles Public Schools.[41] The group claims 2006 showed a reduction in JROTC enrollment in Los Angeles, with a drop of one-third or approximately 1,500 students, suggesting part of the explanation is efforts to stop the involuntary enrollment of students into JROTC.[42] At Roosevelt High School in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles, a local campaign against JROTC cut the number of cadets 43 percent in four years, with a JROTC instructor reporting a 24 percent drop in enrollment from 2003-04 to 2006-07 for the rest of the Los Angeles unified School District.[43]

In October 2005, the New York Civil Liberties Union pressured Hutchinson Central Technical High School in Buffalo, New York to release students from a mandatory JROTC program, arguing that the practice violates the State’s Education Law, which provides that no child may be enrolled in JROTC without prior written parental consent.[44]

In a controversial decision, the San Francisco School Board voted in November 2006 to eliminate JROTC altogether in the entire city within two years,[45] stating that "armed forces should have no place in public schools, and the military's discriminatory stance on gays makes the presence of JROTC unacceptable."[46] In response, many supporters have spoken up, including Mayor Gavin Newsom who expressed great disappointment at the school board's decision.[47] Editorials supporting JROTC were published in both of San Francisco's major newspapers.[48][49] An online non-scientific poll conducted by the San Francisco Chronicle through their website on November 5, 2006 showed support of retaining JROTC by about 79% of the self-selected participants.[50]

Selected JROTC units

See also

References

  1. ^ a b United States Army. "Army Junior ROTC History". Retrieved 2006-12-29.
  2. ^ 10 U.S.C. § 2031
  3. ^ United States Army. "US Army Posture Statement FY01 Chapter 5: Meeting the Recruiting Challenge". Retrieved 2006-12-29.
  4. ^ United States Army Cadet Command (1999-03-30). "Cadet Command Policy memorandum 50" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Huet-Vaughn, Emiliano (2001). "School: A place to teach or to recruit?" (PDF). The Human Quest. pp. 10–11. Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. ^ H.R. 4205 - Hearings on National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 before the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, February 10, 2000
  7. ^ Stodghill, Ron (2002). "Class Warfare". Time Magazine. Retrieved 2006-12-30. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |day= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  8. ^ Recruiting, Retention, and Reservist Promotion Act of 2000 (HR 4208)
  9. ^ Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools. AFJROTC History "AFJROTC History". Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  10. ^ United States Navy Naval Service Training Command. NJROTC Basic Facts "NJROTC Basic Facts". Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  11. ^ United States Marine Corps. "History of Marine Corps JROTC Program". Retrieved 2006-12-29.
  12. ^ MAST Academy in Miami, Florida
  13. ^ Amendments to 10 U. S.C. § 102 (2005-01-03). Retrieved on 2006-12-29.
  14. ^ Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) (2005). "Department of Defense Budget Fiscal Year 2006" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  15. ^ (Office of the Secretary of Defense (2006). "Operation and Maintenance Overview Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Budget Estimates" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  16. ^ "JROTC Officers". Retrieved 2007-04-24.
  17. ^ California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (2004). "Designated Subjects Special Subjects Teaching Credentials (Leaflet CL-699)". Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  18. ^ "RETIRED "GRAY-AREA" GUARD AND RESERVE MEMBERS". Retrieved 2007-04-24.
  19. ^ United States Navy Naval Service Training Command (2001). "School Administrator Guidelines for Hiring NJROTC Instructors". Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  20. ^ "Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR)". Retrieved 2007-04-24.
  21. ^ Claire Schaeffer-Duffy (2003-03-28). "Feeding the military machine: JROTC expansion and inner-city academies mark recruiting incursion into U.S. public school classrooms, critics say". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
  22. ^ Jennifer Wedekind (2005-06-05). "The Childrens Crusade". Retrieved 2007-04-24.
  23. ^ For more about the regulations relating all personnel (including cadets) to military command authority, see: Army, U. S. (2006). Army Command Policy (unclassified) (PDF). Headquarters: Department of the Army. AR 600-20.
  24. ^ For historical context for many military customs, from ceremonies to activities forbidden by force of observed custom, as such customs are adopted by individual JROTC units under mentorship of instructors on their retirement from active duty:Bonn, LTC Keith E. (2002). Army Officer's Guide (49th ed. ed.). Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811726495. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  25. ^ Army, U. S. (no date (1985?)). Military History and Professional Development. U. S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: Combat Studies Institute. 85-CSI-21 85. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help) Directions for inclusion of veterans, cadets, and other persons in unit activities such as unit organization day celebrations
  26. ^ Section 524.5 of the CFR National Defense title states in part that "JROTC/NDCC cadets may qualify for an advantageous position in the Senior ROTC and for a higher pay grade upon enlistment in a Regular or Reserve component of the Armed Forces."
  27. ^ Army, U. S. (2005). Regular Army and Army Reserve Enlistment Program (unclassified) (PDF). Headquarters: Department of the Army. AR 601-210. Generally for cadets with at least one year in JROTC, see paragraph 2-18, "Enlistment pay grades for personnel without prior service"
  28. ^ Approved at the 2000 VFP convention: "That VFP opposes Junior Reserve Officer Training (JROTC) in the public schools of the U.S. and calls for their discontinuance." Approved at the 2005 national convention: "Veterans For Peace National encourages its members to work with like minded organizations and people to develop resources and classes in public schools that offer alternative views of citizenship to that of JROTC."[1]
  29. ^ Thomas-Lester, Avis (2005-09-19). "Recruitment Pressures Draw Scrutiny to JROTC". Washington Post B01. Retrieved 2007-03-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ "JROTC is a Recruiting Program for Dead-End Military Jobs".
  31. ^ http://www.objector.org/jrotc/discriminates.html
  32. ^ The American Friends Service Committee (1999). "Trading Books for Soldiers: The True Cost of JROTC Report Summary". Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  33. ^ http://www.objector.org/jrotc/localcontrol.html
  34. ^ http://www.objector.org/jrotc/jrotcsays.html
  35. ^ Catherine Lutz (Professor of Anthropology at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) and Lesley Bartlett. Making Soldiers in the Public Schools: An Analysis of the Army JROTC Curriculum. American Friends Service Committee, April 1995[2]
  36. ^ http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/militarism-in-schools/JROTC-review.htm#3
  37. ^ http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Resolutions5.vp.html
  38. ^ http://www.objector.org/jrotc/violence.html
  39. ^ Pogash, Carol (2005). "Mr. Miller Goes to War". Edutopia Magazine. Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  40. ^ The Coalition Against Militarism In Our Schools. "MISSION STATEMENT OF THE COALITION AGAINST MILITARISM IN THE SCHOOLS". Retrieved 2007-03-21. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  41. ^ The Coalition Against Militarism In Our Schools. "Military Infiltration of Our Public Schools". Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  42. ^ http://www.militaryfreeschools.org/news.html
  43. ^ Nazario, Sonia (2007-02-25). "Activists in Calif. school district crusading against junior ROTC". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-03-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ http://www.nyclu.org/milrec_buffalo_hutchtech_101205.html
  45. ^ Achs Freeling, Nicole (2006-11-15). "School Board Notes 11.14.06". GreatSchools.net. Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  46. ^ Tucker, Jill (2006-11-15). "School board votes to dump JROTC program". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  47. ^ Hall, Carol T. (2006-11-20). "Newsom tries to find solution to rescue JROTC". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  48. ^ "A school board war on JROTC". San Francisco Chronicle. 2006-11-13. Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  49. ^ Mattimore, Patrick (2006-11-27). "Let's pink-slip the school board". The San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  50. ^ "This week's question". San Francisco Chronicle. 2006-11-12. Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

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