JROTC Jr Army Instructor

Summary

JROTC Instructor

JROTC instructors are continuing a path of selfless service to our nation and its youth. Most find it to be one of the most challenging of all endeavors, but also one of the most satisfying as they observe, first-hand, the impact they have on cadets in motivating andguiding them to achieve their fullest potential in school and in life. This section provides insights into many roles that you need to know, which are expected of an instructor to be successful.

(1) You Are A Professional: As a military retiree, with many years of demonstrated leadership, selfless service, integrity, and success, you are a proven professional. Your school and community will value and expect this of you as a JROTC instructor. Embedded in your professionalism is your ability to follow and enforce a Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, which students, parents, and school administrators will rely upon every day. Membership in relevant professional organizations is one of the things that separate a profession from a conventional job. As a teacher, it is important to support local, state, and national educational organizations. Many professional organizations offer continuing education, seminars, and lectures along with other opportunities for learning.

(2) You Are A Civilian Teacher: Although you are no longer an Army employee, you will find the civilian teaching profession to be similar in many ways to your military service. You will be required to also follow and enforce a School District Teacher Code of Ethics and/or Conduct, so make sure you read it and understand it. You will also have "fiduciary" responsibility of your Cadets, just like you had with your Soldiers. This means you are "entrusted" by their parents and the state with their proper education, best interests, welfare, and safety, which are legal responsibilities with severe liability when violated. You will also be a teacher 24/7/365, just as you were a Soldier in military service. Be aware that you will always be under observation, not only during school hours, but after school as well, even while dining at restaurants, attending sports events, etc. People in the community will know you, although you may not know them.

(3) You Are A Certified JROTC Instructor: With your JROTC Certification IAW AR 145-2, you officially become designated as a "member of the Armed Forces not on active duty," which provides you with many privileges and authorities, as well as obligations. You are now allowed to wear the US Army uniform 24/7, when as a retiree you were limited to only certain ceremonies and events. You are also now authorized to teach the JROTC curriculum, and utilize US Government information and logistical systems (e.g. possess a CAC and GPC) to support your JROTC program and its activities. Your JROTC Certification also protects you from being misused to perform non-JROTC related duties, like teaching other subjects. Note: It does not exempt you from performing common duties all teachers share in, like lunchroom duty or hall monitor, etc. Your JROTC certification also commits you to certain obligations, such as following Cadet Command regulations, as well as, your School District's policies and rules, and keeping your brigade chain of command informed. Very importantly, you are also obligated to abide by all military rank, protocols, customs, and traditions, and accord other JROTC instructors with the military courtesies commensurate with their rank.

(4) You Are A Representative Of The US Army: With your JROTC Certification, and wearing the uniform, you represent the US Army to all students, faculty, and to the community. Most of the general public has limited knowledge or contact with the US Army, so your actions will have a lasting impact on how the US Army and other military services are viewed and respected. Keep this in mind at all times.

(5) You Are A Role Model: As a JROTC instructor and teacher, you will continue to be a role model, and not only to your Cadets, but also to other teachers, school administrators, and students outside the JROTC program. You will find that your vast experiences in the real world, and your proven abilities to plan, lead, and solve problems will be highly sought after. You will also be a mentor and a coach to your Cadets, and in far too many cases, be looked upon by some as a father figure or mother figure, who have none in their homes.

(6) You Will Take An Active Role On The Faculty: Many teachers and administrators in your school will not know or understand what you do as a JROTC instructor. Because you are in military uniform, they will assume you are just doing "military things," and that you are not a "real" teacher instructing a nationally accredited curriculum. You must actively pursue correcting this misperception. Become an integral part of your school's faculty, and join key committees like those involving school longrange planning or community outreach, etc. Volunteer to demonstrate to the faculty your JROTC curriculum during a faculty professional development session, which occur periodically throughout the school year. Once other teachers view the quality of the JROTC curriculum, with its detailed lesson plans and integrated use of electronic media, they will be astonished, and your credibility as a "real teacher" will be established. Parents often do not understand JROTC either, so volunteer to speak at a PTA Meeting and/or Student Orientation Night. Also, get to know the members of your School Board, where key decisions are made. Most members will not know what JROTC does or that their district even has a JROTC program. An easy way to start this relationship is to offer your Cadet Color Guard or a Cadet to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of most School Board Meetings. The Board will be appreciative, and its members will start to bond with the JROTC program, and become interested in its activities, community support, and value.

(7) You Will Be A Coach Of A JROTC Co-Curricular Activity Team(s): An essential element of the JROTC curriculum are its co-curricular activities that help to build Cadet teamwork, confidence, and leadership. Every JROTC program must have a Color Guard, a JROTC Leadership and Academics Bowl (JLAB) Team, plus at least one other co-curricular activity, such as a Drill Team, Raider Team, Air-Rifle Team, Robotics Team, Archery Team, Cybersecurity Team, or Cadet Challenge Team. Most JROTC programs do all, and compete in local, area, and state level competitions. Every instructor is involved in coaching these teams. In fact, coaching and assisting JROTC teams are your after school priority, and not the school's sports teams, which a Principal may ask you to support because of your athletic talent or skills. Be aware that you are not authorized to coach or assist the school's sports teams or any non-JROTC related teams, without specific written approval from your brigade, which is rare.

(8) You Will Take An Active Role In The Community: Your involvement in the community is absolutely essential to supporting and accomplishing the JROTC mission "To motivate young people to be better citizens." In fact, the JROTC program incorporates community service and service learning into its curriculum at every level, which is evaluated during accreditation evaluations (JPAs). Reach out to local civic patriotic and citizenship building organizations and clubs, such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, Kiwanis Club, Habitat for Humanity, Food Banks, etc. and get involved with their activities. Many are also looking for ways to support school programs and students, like JROTC, with funds and/or awards.

(9) You Should Maintain A Strong Affiliation/Liaison Role With A Senior Army ROTC Program (SROTC): It is important that you have a strong relationship with a college/university Army SROTC program. Normally, your brigade will have already affiliated your JROTC program with a specific SROTC program, but if not, reach out and establish one. Although JROTC is not an Army recruiting tool, the synergy, mutual support, and resources each program can provide each other helps both better accomplish their mission. Educating JROTC Cadets on the many career opportunities and pathways in life is an important aspect of JROTC, and this should also include military service and officer-ship. Get to know the SROTC Professor of Military Science (PMS), and invite their cadre to visit your high school to present information on scholarship opportunities (national and campus based level). Intern, arrange for the SROTC program to set-up a campus visit for your JROTC Cadets each year. Also, coordinate to send selected JROTC Cadets to attend their annual military ball, and invite the SROTC to send Cadets to your military ball, as well. When requested, most SROTC programs will send their college Cadets as mentors, and as graders at your local Raider or Drill Meets, so take advantage of this. The closeness of their ages with your JROTC Cadets makes a lasting and inspiring impression.

(10) You Should Maintain A Strong and Cordial Relationship With The Local Military Recruiters: Serve as the school-district liaison (school representative) to coordinate campus access for military recruiters, career days, ASVAB testing, and development of local mentoring programs. In-turn, your local military recruiters can also be a source of support when conducting JROTC activities and community support.

Job Description

JROTC Instructor

JROTC instructors are continuing a path of selfless service to our nation and its youth. Most find it to be one of the most challenging of all endeavors, but also one of the most satisfying as they observe, first-hand, the impact they have on cadets in motivating andguiding them to achieve their fullest potential in school and in life. This section provides insights into many roles that you need to know, which are expected of an instructor to be successful.

(1) You Are A Professional: As a military retiree, with many years of demonstrated leadership, selfless service, integrity, and success, you are a proven professional. Your school and community will value and expect this of you as a JROTC instructor. Embedded in your professionalism is your ability to follow and enforce a Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, which students, parents, and school administrators will rely upon every day. Membership in relevant professional organizations is one of the things that separate a profession from a conventional job. As a teacher, it is important to support local, state, and national educational organizations. Many professional organizations offer continuing education, seminars, and lectures along with other opportunities for learning.

(2) You Are A Civilian Teacher: Although you are no longer an Army employee, you will find the civilian teaching profession to be similar in many ways to your military service. You will be required to also follow and enforce a School District Teacher Code of Ethics and/or Conduct, so make sure you read it and understand it. You will also have "fiduciary" responsibility of your Cadets, just like you had with your Soldiers. This means you are "entrusted" by their parents and the state with their proper education, best interests, welfare, and safety, which are legal responsibilities with severe liability when violated. You will also be a teacher 24/7/365, just as you were a Soldier in military service. Be aware that you will always be under observation, not only during school hours, but after school as well, even while dining at restaurants, attending sports events, etc. People in the community will know you, although you may not know them.

(3) You Are A Certified JROTC Instructor: With your JROTC Certification IAW AR 145-2, you officially become designated as a "member of the Armed Forces not on active duty," which provides you with many privileges and authorities, as well as obligations. You are now allowed to wear the US Army uniform 24/7, when as a retiree you were limited to only certain ceremonies and events. You are also now authorized to teach the JROTC curriculum, and utilize US Government information and logistical systems (e.g. possess a CAC and GPC) to support your JROTC program and its activities. Your JROTC Certification also protects you from being misused to perform non-JROTC related duties, like teaching other subjects. Note: It does not exempt you from performing common duties all teachers share in, like lunchroom duty or hall monitor, etc. Your JROTC certification also commits you to certain obligations, such as following Cadet Command regulations, as well as, your School District's policies and rules, and keeping your brigade chain of command informed. Very importantly, you are also obligated to abide by all military rank, protocols, customs, and traditions, and accord other JROTC instructors with the military courtesies commensurate with their rank.

(4) You Are A Representative Of The US Army: With your JROTC Certification, and wearing the uniform, you represent the US Army to all students, faculty, and to the community. Most of the general public has limited knowledge or contact with the US Army, so your actions will have a lasting impact on how the US Army and other military services are viewed and respected. Keep this in mind at all times.

(5) You Are A Role Model: As a JROTC instructor and teacher, you will continue to be a role model, and not only to your Cadets, but also to other teachers, school administrators, and students outside the JROTC program. You will find that your vast experiences in the real world, and your proven abilities to plan, lead, and solve problems will be highly sought after. You will also be a mentor and a coach to your Cadets, and in far too many cases, be looked upon by some as a father figure or mother figure, who have none in their homes.

(6) You Will Take An Active Role On The Faculty: Many teachers and administrators in your school will not know or understand what you do as a JROTC instructor. Because you are in military uniform, they will assume you are just doing "military things," and that you are not a "real" teacher instructing a nationally accredited curriculum. You must actively pursue correcting this misperception. Become an integral part of your school's faculty, and join key committees like those involving school longrange planning or community outreach, etc. Volunteer to demonstrate to the faculty your JROTC curriculum during a faculty professional development session, which occur periodically throughout the school year. Once other teachers view the quality of the JROTC curriculum, with its detailed lesson plans and integrated use of electronic media, they will be astonished, and your credibility as a "real teacher" will be established. Parents often do not understand JROTC either, so volunteer to speak at a PTA Meeting and/or Student Orientation Night. Also, get to know the members of your School Board, where key decisions are made. Most members will not know what JROTC does or that their district even has a JROTC program. An easy way to start this relationship is to offer your Cadet Color Guard or a Cadet to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of most School Board Meetings. The Board will be appreciative, and its members will start to bond with the JROTC program, and become interested in its activities, community support, and value.

(7) You Will Be A Coach Of A JROTC Co-Curricular Activity Team(s): An essential element of the JROTC curriculum are its co-curricular activities that help to build Cadet teamwork, confidence, and leadership. Every JROTC program must have a Color Guard, a JROTC Leadership and Academics Bowl (JLAB) Team, plus at least one other co-curricular activity, such as a Drill Team, Raider Team, Air-Rifle Team, Robotics Team, Archery Team, Cybersecurity Team, or Cadet Challenge Team. Most JROTC programs do all, and compete in local, area, and state level competitions. Every instructor is involved in coaching these teams. In fact, coaching and assisting JROTC teams are your after school priority, and not the school's sports teams, which a Principal may ask you to support because of your athletic talent or skills. Be aware that you are not authorized to coach or assist the school's sports teams or any non-JROTC related teams, without specific written approval from your brigade, which is rare.

(8) You Will Take An Active Role In The Community: Your involvement in the community is absolutely essential to supporting and accomplishing the JROTC mission "To motivate young people to be better citizens." In fact, the JROTC program incorporates community service and service learning into its curriculum at every level, which is evaluated during accreditation evaluations (JPAs). Reach out to local civic patriotic and citizenship building organizations and clubs, such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, Kiwanis Club, Habitat for Humanity, Food Banks, etc. and get involved with their activities. Many are also looking for ways to support school programs and students, like JROTC, with funds and/or awards.

(9) You Should Maintain A Strong Affiliation/Liaison Role With A Senior Army ROTC Program (SROTC): It is important that you have a strong relationship with a college/university Army SROTC program. Normally, your brigade will have already affiliated your JROTC program with a specific SROTC program, but if not, reach out and establish one. Although JROTC is not an Army recruiting tool, the synergy, mutual support, and resources each program can provide each other helps both better accomplish their mission. Educating JROTC Cadets on the many career opportunities and pathways in life is an important aspect of JROTC, and this should also include military service and officer-ship. Get to know the SROTC Professor of Military Science (PMS), and invite their cadre to visit your high school to present information on scholarship opportunities (national and campus based level). Intern, arrange for the SROTC program to set-up a campus visit for your JROTC Cadets each year. Also, coordinate to send selected JROTC Cadets to attend their annual military ball, and invite the SROTC to send Cadets to your military ball, as well. When requested, most SROTC programs will send their college Cadets as mentors, and as graders at your local Raider or Drill Meets, so take advantage of this. The closeness of their ages with your JROTC Cadets makes a lasting and inspiring impression.

(10) You Should Maintain A Strong and Cordial Relationship With The Local Military Recruiters: Serve as the school-district liaison (school representative) to coordinate campus access for military recruiters, career days, ASVAB testing, and development of local mentoring programs. In-turn, your local military recruiters can also be a source of support when conducting JROTC activities and community support.