Department Welcome

The United States Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) came into being with the passage of the National Defense Act of 1916. JROTC was established in the Houston Independent School District in 1926. Once looked upon primarily as a source of enlisted recruits and officer candidates, the JROTC program evolved into its current form as a citizenship program devoted to American youth's moral, physical, and educational uplift.

Houston Independent School District's JROTC department consists of 18 Army, 5 Navy, 1 Air Force, and 2 Leadership and Character Development Corps (LCDC) JROTC programs, with a total JROTC enrollment of 4,200 students for the school year 2023-2024. Statistics for students completing four years in the program are as follows: over 85% attend college, 8% enter the workforce, and less than 7% join the military. Last school year, graduating senior cadets earned approximately $6,547,696.00 in scholarships.

Mission

The Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is a voluntary high school program of instruction administrated by the Department of Defense (DOD) through the military departments. A key purpose of JROTC, according to 10 U.S.C. §2031 (as amended by P.L. 116-283), is “to instill in students in United States secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States (including an introduction to service opportunities in military, national, and public service), and personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment.”

About

The JROTC Program emphasizes character education, student achievement, wellness, leadership, and diversity. It is a cooperative effort by the military services and host institutions to produce successful students and citizens while fostering a more constructive and disciplined learning environment in each school. JROTC substantially contributes to students, schools, and communities that benefit significantly from its presence.

Program Outcomes

• Graduate high school students are prepared to succeed in post-secondary options and career pathways.
• Make decisions that promote positive social, emotional, and physical health.
• Act with integrity and personal accountability as students learn to lead others to succeed in a diverse global workforce.
• Engage in civic concerns that impact the community and society at large.