Do I have to join the military if I participate in JROTC?
No. There is no obligation to join any military branch if you take JROTC. Marine Corps JROTC is a character-building program that emphasizes the Marine Corps’ core values of Honor, Courage, & Commitment as well as leadership traits and leadership principles. We focus on building the cadets’ self-confidence, citizenship awareness, and providing a positive atmosphere for personal growth. If you were interested joining the military, JROTC will definitely give you an advantage on your peers that do not take JROTC.
Are there grooming standards in JROTC?
Yes. There are specific grooming standards. There is no requirement to shave your head. There is a requirement for your hair to be kept neat as per the school’s dress code. While in uniform, we will grade haircuts and hair styles based on Marine Corps grooming standards (Mohawks are not authorized in uniform). Generally, a male cadet will need to get a fresh haircut about once every two to three weeks. Females hair should not touch the collar while in uniform. Females with longer hair will use the ‘sock bun’ style. Non-natural hair colors (i.e. pink, blue, purple, green, etc.) are also not authorized in uniform. Males are not allowed to wear earrings at any time, and females may wear conservative stud-type earrings in the ear lobe while in uniform. Females may wear fingernail polish, but it may not be eccentric (i.e. anything other than neutral colors like clear, tan, and some reds & pinks).
Can I join JROTC if I also participate in a school sport, band or other school organization?
Yes. Each year, there are cadets that participate in various school sports & activities to include football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, wrestling, cross-country, track & field, swimming, dance, and band. Additionally, students may join any club that the school offers while being a part of JROTC. All cadets are encouraged to participate in any sport or club that is offered at Walker High School.
What is the weekly routine in JROTC?
During school hours, the week will look something like this:
-Monday: Physical Training (PT)
-Tuesday: Classroom lecture
-Wednesday: PT, Quiz (covering material from day before), and close order drill practice
-Thursday: Uniform inspection and material review
-Friday: PT
Are there any (college or military) benefits to participating in JROTC?
Yes. Any activity that a student participates in while in high school is always good to put on a resume and college entrance essays. Some colleges will give students senior-level JROTC credits if they have completed all four years of JROTC. All service branches will normally allow individuals to enter the military at the paygrade of E-2 vice E-1 if they have completed two years of JROTC. On some occasions, a military branch may allow an individual to enter the military as an E-3 if they have completed all four years of JROTC. Military recruiters will be able to address this as well.
Do I have to wear a uniform at school?
Yes. There is a requirement to wear the Marine Corps utility (camouflage) uniform once a week. At Walker, we typically wear uniforms on Thursday. This is a ‘Major Assessment’ graded event. On uniform days, the cadets wear the uniform (correctly) all day. If a cadet is absent on uniform day, they are required to wear the uniform the next day that they are present. If they fail to do so, they will receive a zero for that graded event. If a cadet fails to wear their uniform on the prescribed uniform day, they may make it up the next day, but will lose 10 points on their inspection. Again, if they fail to wear the uniform on their make-up day, they will receive a zero. There is also a PT uniform that is worn during Fridays’ PT.
Do I have to wear a uniform to football games or other school functions?
No. Only the color guard wears their uniform at football games. Additionally, the push-up platoon will wear a version of the uniform at the football games. The push-up platoon is a voluntary group that will wear a prescribed version of the camouflage uniform and do push-ups in the infield when the home-team scores. No other cadets are permitted to wear their uniforms at football games or any other school events unless specifically directed to do so by the JROTC instructors.
Is there a fee to take JROTC?
Yes. There is an annual $10 fee to participate in JROTC. This is to offset the price of the cadets' Physical Training uniform. There may also be occasions where cadets may need to pay for food or souvenirs at specific events. Additionally, if a cadet loses certain uniform items and needs a replacement, there may be a fee associated. All military uniforms are purchased and provided by the Marine Corps.
Does JROTC give me credit for Physical Education?
Yes. Cadets who participate in one year of JROTC are given credit for PE and do not have to take PE.
Do I have to participate in after school JROTC activities?
No. All after school JROTC activities are voluntary. We will encourage cadets to participate in as many activities as they wish. We believe that the more involved a cadet is the more fun they will have in the program. We will compete against other JROTC programs at out-of-town drill meets. All of the practices for the teams that compete at the drill meets are after school. In order to compete in the drill meets, cadets must participate in practices. After school events will include color guard practice, drill team practice, physical training team practice, inspection team practice and shooting practice. Yes, we will take into consideration those cadets who are also participating in another sport or band. We will not punish cadets for other activities, but the teams will be made up of the most competitive cadets for the specific events.
Do I have to be passing all of my classes in order to participate at drill meets and shooting competitions?
Yes. Cadets must have at least a ‘D’ in all classes in order to compete on any JROTC team. We will pull grades the week prior to the competition to ensure that all team members have passing grades. This is a strict rule. However, a cadet may attend drill meets and even ride the bus if they are failing a class, just not be an active participant.
What academic topics are covered in JROTC?
Topics will include:
-Leadership
-Citizenship
-Personal growth and responsibility
-Public Service and Career Exploration
-General military subjects
Does JROTC take field trips?
Yes. We will take at least one field trip each year, usually during the spring semester. Each year, we try to go somewhere different than the last. For example, we may go visit a Marine Corps command at the Belle Chase Naval Air Station in New Orleans, or we may visit the Lion King Retreat Center and enjoy a day of running their extensive obstacle course.
Is there a military ball?
Yes. There will be a military ball each November to commemorate the birthday of the Marine Corps.
If I join JROTC, do I have to take it all four years of high school?
No. JROTC is an elective. You may take JROTC for only one semester or you may have the opportunity to take JROTC every semester that you attend Walker High School.
Can I join JROTC after my Freshman year?
Yes. You may join JROTC as a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior. However, you would need to join the Fall semester because that is when ROTC-1 is offered.
Are there any minimum physical requirements in order to participate in JROTC?
No. Anyone who is interested in being a cadet is encouraged to join. We do not screen cadets based on their physical capability. Physical fitness is part of the overall grade, but it will be based on your individual effort. The only requirement when it comes to physical exertion is that each cadet pushes themselves.
Does JROTC require a completed athletic physical form?
Yes. In order to participate fully in JROTC, i.e. participate in PT and the obstacle course, we require a LHSAA Medical History Evaluation which must be completed prior to each school year.
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