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1 [1] (January 26, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/govethw0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing the IegisI9tive debate since 1914 Updated January 26, 2026 Defense Primer: Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Background The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) is a federally funded program of instruction for high school- aged students administered by the Armed Forces. The purpose of JROTC, according to 10 U.S.C. §2031 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. Congress established JROTC as an Army program in the National Defense Act of 1916 (P.L. 64-85), and in 1964 (P.L. 88-647) expanded it to the Navy and Air Force. Congress later authorized U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) JROTC units at two schools: one in Miami, FL in 1989 (P.L. 101-225), and another in Camden County, NC in 2005 (P.L. 109-241). Section 11247 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (P.L. 117-263) required the USCG to establish and maintain at least one JROTC Unit in every Coast Guard district by December 31, 2025. As of January 1, 2026, the USCG reported having existing or planned units in 8 of the 9 districts. In FY2024, the military services reported 3,507 JROTC units, with programs in all 50 states and at Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools overseas (see Table 1). Eighth-grade students may participate in JROTC if physically co-located with 9th- 12th grade students. Home-schooled students may also participate. Table I. Estimated Size of JROTC Program in FY2025 Number Estimated Service of units enrollment Army 1,744 285,000 Navy 658 81,850 Marine Corps 248 29,000 Air Force 815 91,280 Space Force 10 1,100 Total 3,475 488,230 Source: FY2026 military department budget justification documents. Notes: Navy figures include 75 National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) units and 5,450 NNDCC cadets. Table does not include 14 USCG units. JROTC Instructors JROTC instructors are typically retired or reserve officers and enlisted noncommissioned officers (NCOs); 10 U.S.C. §2031(d)(1) also authorizes employment of active duty servicemembers and certain honorably discharged veterans. These instructors are hired as employees of the school district, but also have oversight from the military services. Instructors are required to abide by standards set by their parent service, as well as the policies set by their host institution. Generally, schools with JROTC units employ a minimum of one officer (Senior Military Instructor) and one NCO (Junior Military Instructor) on staff. Eligibility criteria for JROTC instructors (e.g., education, certification, training) are specified in law (10 U.S.C. §2033). Servicemembers who are eligible for retired pay may continue to receive such pay while employed as an instructor. Military departments subsidize instructor positions with appropriated funds by reimbursing the host institution for a portion of the salary using the JROTC Standardized Instructor Pay Scale (JSIPS). Curriculum JROTC courses are taught over a three- or four-year period on topics such as leadership, ethics, civics, history, and health and wellness. The FY2020 NDAA (P.L. 116-92) authorized instruction in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. JROTC also includes service-specific courses such as Aerospace Science or Seamanship and Navigation. In addition, units offer extracurricular activities such as color guard/drill team, marksmanship, and field trips to military installations. Estab shing aJROTC Program Congressional offices may be approached by local educational authorities (LEAs) in their districts with questions about how to establish a new JROTC unit. Schools interested in hosting a unit must apply to the respective military department. Host schools are required to maintain participation levels of 10% of the student body, or 100 students, whichever is less. The military departments establish criteria for unit placement, including Title I status under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (P.L. 89-10, as amended), local indicators of need (e.g., high unemployment or illiteracy), student enrollment, school financial solvency, and fair and equitable distribution of JROTC programs among states. Schools may also apply to host or convert an existing JROTC unit to a National Defense Cadet Corps (NDCC) per 10 U.S.C. §2035. NDCC statutory and regulatory requirements are similar to host a JROTC unit. However, instructor salaries and other costs for NDCCs are the responsibility of the host institution and are not subsidized by the federal government. Schools may seek to convert an existing unit to an unfunded NDCC if enrollment figures fall under the statutory threshold. Federa Fundi ng Congress typically appropriates JROTC funds annually as part of the armed services' Operation and Maintenance