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. In 1964, the Vitalization Act opened JROTC up to the other services and
replaced most of the active duty instructors with retired members of the armed forces, who worked
for and are 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 study of ethics, citizenship, communications, leadership, life skills and other subjects
designed to prepare young men and women 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.
