Though rarely advertised to students outside of San Clemente and not listed in the official CUSD course catalog, the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is beneficial for students to take.
JROTC is a career based class separate from the CCA program open to anyone in the Capistrano Unified School District.
Right now most students who participate are enrolled in San Clemente High School, though the program seeks to expand. They will have a booth at our Stallion Showcase on Saturday, January 10.
JROTC helps students develop leadership, time management, and problem solving skills while earning PE credit through its physical training. Completing the course also makes students eligible for ROTC scholarships that can cover college tuition and housing.
Students who choose to enlist in the military gain the added benefit of starting at a higher rank, making the class highly beneficial to both students who desire joining the military or pursuing higher education.
The class is divided into separate teams. Raiders participate in physical competitions, Color Guard practices flag ceremonies. Another team focuses on marksmanship skills via BB guns and archery.
“When I took it at first just because I thought it sounded cool. But it actually gave me a lot of skills like it helped me boost my confidence because I used to really lack that. And it’s shown me how to lead people and take initiative. I have quite a few responsibilities, so it’s really good practice for things like the workplace and everything,” said Teddy Bohn, a San Juan Hills student who participates in the program.
Due to the variety of teams, students can take the class throughout all four years of high school, allowing students to build a diverse set of leadership skills while building credibility within the military structure.
JROTC may appear as a military focused class but in reality, it’s primarily focused on teaching the concepts of leadership, citizenship, and physical health. Students are not required to commit to anything military related when taking the class itself meaning once they graduate they will not have to serve military related duties such as monthly drills.
“The only ties to the military is we wear their uniforms and use their funding,” said Bohn.
Additionally, JROTC comes with no monetary commitments. All equipment students will need for the class is paid by the US military, the only thing that students need to pay, is the optional “Military Ball” which is a dance for students in the JROTC program. Students can take the class any time by simply talking to their counselor.
