I have recently discovered that while living in the present is certainly rewarding, it is doubtlessly fundamental that we consider our pasts and futures as well - what made us who we are, and how will we continue to improve? The Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (JROTC) has advanced in nearly all of the fields it is involved in since its founding in 1916, and it is simple to see that its development will not end here. Cadets have gone on to become professional athletes, renowned scholars, and celebrated members of the military; one can only imagine what inspiring individuals the program will produce in the future. From roughly 1819 to 1915, military training occurred sparingly in high schools and colleges across the nation; although it lacked sanction, it encouraged many students to pursue careers in the armed forces. President Wilson addressed the issue of this unofficial instruction in 1916, when he signed the National Defense Act. The National Defense Act of 1916 is primarily responsible for the creation of JROTC. At the beginning of its existence, active duty military personnel led the Army JROTC program; their tools to lead instruction consisted of federal military equipment loaned to them. Only six units …show more content…
In addition, the act opened the program up to the other services of the military, allowing for stronger financial and academic support. Students were finally able to enroll in their branch of choice – Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Navy. The amount of participants rose significantly as well; this could likely be attributed to JROTC’s fresh expansion. The criteria during this time consisted almost entirely of olden military content; instructors taught on the topics of drill, military ranks, and similar vital knowledge required for entrance into the armed