JROTC Cadet Uniform Guide

Figure 8-2. U.S. Army Junior ROTC Cadet Army Service Uniform (C/ASU) –

Female

Figure 8-4. The Cadet Army Camouflage Uniform (C/ACU)

DISTINCTIVE INSIGNIA

(1) The proper placement of insignia, awards, and other uniform items is shown in Figures 1 through 10. 

(2) Cadets are authorized to wear distinctive shoulder cords on the Class A and Class B uniforms to recognize their status as active members of JROTC co-curricular organizations. Former members may wear the ribbon and tab awarded for that organization, but not the cord. Single cords will be worn on the right shoulder, except for the National Honor Society cord which is worn on the left shoulder only. The Crack Drill Team and Color Guard cords are worn on the right shoulder for uniformity during performances. No more than two cords may be worn, one on each shoulder. The authorized cords are: 

a. National Honor Society: Gold Cord 

b. Honor Guard: Purple and Gold Cord 

c. Crack Drill Team: Red Cord 

d. Color Guard: White Cord 

e. Air Rifle Team: Tan Cord 

f. Orienteering Team: Green Cord 

g. Regulation Drill Team: Maroon and white Cord 

h. Flight Cub: Medium Blue Cord 

i. Bugle Corps: Dark Blue Cord 

j. Freshman Leadership and Outstanding Drill Cadet Award: Black Cord 

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

A. GENERAL. Achievement is recognized by badges, medals and ribbons. All awards and decorations must be announced by an order before they may be worn. A ribbon and medal that represent the same award may not be worn at the same time. The awards and decorations listed herein are the only ones authorized for wear on cadet uniforms. 

B. RIBBONS. Male cadets wear ribbons centered over the left pocket and 1/8" above the top of the pocket on the shirt/coat. Female cadets wear ribbons centered above a horizontal line that is even with the first button of the blouse/coat and the bottom of the name plate. Ribbons will be worn in rows of three in order of precedence from the wearer’s right to left and top to bottom (See Figures 7 through 10). 

BADGES

Up to three marksmanship badges may be worn on the Class A and Class B uniforms. Females wear badges 1/4” below the ribbons. Males wear badges 1/8” below the top of the left pocket flap. A single badge is worn centered. Two badges are worn centered and at least 1” apart. Three badges are worn centered and equally spaced. Only the highest qualification badge for each sponsoring organization will be worn, e.g., a cadet will not wear both the Cadet Command Expert Air Rifle Qualification Badge and the Sharpshooter Air Rifle Qualification Badge (See Figures 7 through 10). The authorized marksmanship badges in order of precedence are: 

(1) US Army Qualification Badges 

(2) Cadet Command Qualification Badges 

(3) USA Shooting Badges 

(4) National Rifle Association Badges 

MEDALS

Medals are worn in order of precedence from the wearer’s right to left and top to bottom. Female cadets wear medals 1/4" below the ribbons, or 1/8" below the row of 

badges. Male cadets wear medals 1/8" below the top of the left pocket flap, or 1/8" below the bottom of the pocket flap on the pocket, if a row of badges is worn. Medals are worn in rows of two or more. If only one medal is worn, it may be worn in a row with one or two badges in the left most position. The number of medals worn in each row depends upon the size of the coat. Second and subsequent rows of medals will not contain more medals than the row above. For example, if there are five medals in the first row, the second row must have five or fewer medals. Each row of medals will be positioned as high as possible under the row above. The following are authorized awards with medals in the order of precedence: 

(1) Medal for Heroism 

(2) Legion of Valor Bronze Cross 

(3) Superior Cadet Decoration 

(4) Sons of the American Revolution ROTC Medal 

(5) Daughters of the American Revolution ROTC Medal 

(6) Sons of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Medal 

(7) Military Order of the Purple Heart ROTC Medal 

(8) Military Order of World Wars Bronze ROTC Medal 

(9) Veterans of Foreign Wars JROTC Medal 

(10) American Legion Military Excellence Gold Medal 

(11) American Legion Military Excellence Silver Medal 

(12) American Legion Military Excellence Bronze Medal 

(13) American Legion Scholastic Excellence Gold Medal 

(14) American Legion Scholastic Excellence Silver Medal 

(15) American Legion Scholastic Excellence Bronze Medal 

(16) American Veterans Association JROTC Medal 

(17) United States Army Recruiting Command JROTC Medal 

(18) Association of the United States Army ROTC Medal 

(19) The Military Officers Association of America JROTC Medal 

(20) Reserve Officers Association JROTC Medal 

(21) Military Order of World Wars Patrick Henry Medallion 

(22) Daughters of American Colonists JROTC Medal 

(23) United States Army Reserve Scholar/Athlete Award 

(24) United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award 

(25) United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award 

(26) The Noncommissioned Officer Association Junior ROTC Medal 

(27) The Retired Enlisted Association Junior ROTC Medal 

(28) The National Sojourners JROTC Medal 

(29) Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America Junior ROTC Medal 

(30) National Society, United States Daughters of 1812 Junior ROTC Bronze Medal 

(31) Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps Citizenship Award 

(32) The Raider Brigade Academic Excellence Award 

(33) The Raider Brigade Military Excellence Award 

(34) The Raider Brigade Service Excellence Award 

(35) Medals earned in JROTC competitive events (in any order) 

Criteria for the above listed awards will be distributed as a supplement to the handbook or can be found on-line through the JROTC page within the CDH website. Also, the descriptions and criteria are a part of the “Wearing the Uniform” unit presented in LET-1. 

ORGANIZATION TABS

Organization tabs are worn on the right of the Class A and Class B uniforms 1/8” apart. Males wear tabs centered on the pocket between the bottom of the pocket flap and the bottom of the pocket (Figure 7 and 8). Females wear the tabs centered on the fitted seam between the second and third button (Figure 9 and 10). The Tabs are awarded after the completion of the season. The highest tab is worn on top in accordance with the following order of precedence:

(1) Honor Guard 

(2) Armed / Unarmed Drill Team 

(3) Color Guard 

(5) Raiders

RIBBON DEVICES

Ribbon devices are worn on any ribbon when you have been awarded any ribbon more than once. The proper awarding of devices for second and subsequent awards are as follows: 

DEVICES ON RIBBONS 

FIRST AWARD – ACTUAL RIBBON 

SECOND AWARD – BRONZE LAMP 

THIRD AWARD – SILVER LAMP 

FOURTH AWARD – GOLD LAMP 

FIFTH AWARD – 1 GOLD LAMP + 1 BRONZE LAMP 

SIXTH AWARD – 1 GOLD LAMP + 1 SILVER LAMP 

SEVENTH AWARD – 2 GOLD LAMPS 

EIGHTH AWARD – 2 GOLD LAMPS + 1 BRONZE LAMP 

NINTH AWARD – 2 GOLD LAMPS + 1 SILVER LAMP 

TENTH AWARD – 3 GOLD LAMPS 

APPEARANCE STANDARDS

The below listed standards are for JROTC Cadet's which closely mirror's U.S. Army Uniform and Appearance Policy. If you would like to see the most recent changes with regards to hair, jewelry, tattoo's etc.; please reference the below link. 

A. GENERAL. The Okeechobee High School Corps of Cadets places great importance on the enforcement of uniform and appearance standards. Grooming and the manner in which an organization's members wear their uniforms provide an indication of the state of discipline and morale within the entire organization. Exemplary appearance is the desired standard for every cadet at all times. Setting a good example and displaying good bearing are important characteristics of a leader. Virtually all JROTC uniform and grooming standards follow the CDH standards listed in the Student Handbook for all students. The minimum acceptable appearance standards for each cadet are listed below. 

B. UNIFORMS. 

(1) Slacks/Trousers. Military and school slacks/trousers will be clean, pressed and properly fitted. When the waist band is on the hip line, the slack/trouser length will be such that the hem touches the laces of the shoe with only one "break" in the front crease. The hem rises 1” above the ground at the heel. The left rear pocket tab will be buttoned. 

(2) Blouses/Shirts. Military and school blouses/shirts will be freshly laundered and pressed. The top collar button will be buttoned when a necktie or neck tab is worn. Whenever the optional long sleeve blouse/shirt is worn, a necktie or neck tab is required. Blouse/shirt tails will be fully tucked into the slacks/trousers, so that the belt and belt buckle may be seen. They cannot be worn "flipped under" or loosely bloused over the belt. The JROTC insignia of rank will be properly placed on shoulder tabs of the blouse/shirt. Pockets will be buttoned and the name plate will be worn on the right side with the Honor Star and school crest. All authorized ribbons will be worn in order of precedence on the left. Organization tabs will be worn in order of precedence on the right (Figures 8 and 10). 

(3) Shoes. Only the issued shoes will be worn with the JROTC uniform. Shoes will be cleaned so that they are free of dirt, dust and smudges. The upper shoe surfaces may be cleaned with a glass cleaner (Windex) and the sides of the soles painted with black edge dressing. The laces will be tied. 

(4) Socks. Plain black socks are required when the JROTC uniform is worn. 

(5) Belt and Buckle. A black web belt with brass buckle is always worn with the slacks/trousers. The belt tab will extend on the left side of the buckle for boys and the right side for girls. The buckle will be shined and aligned with the "gig line" (straight line formed by the edge of the blouse/shirt, the edge of the buckle opposite the belt tab, and the zipper flap of the slacks/trousers). 

(6) Undershirt. The only undershirt that may be worn with the JROTC uniform is a plain white crew neck T-shirt. Colored T-shirts, T-shirts with logos, slogans or colored designs, or V-neck T-shirts may not be worn. 

(7) Neck tab/Necktie. The black neck tab/necktie will be worn whenever the Class A uniform or optional long sleeve blouse/shirt is worn. Neckties will be tied with a four-in-hand or modified Windsor knot so that the front of the tie is longer than the rear. Ties will be pulled up properly covering the collar button of the blouse/shirt. Tie clasps will not be worn. 

(8) Uniform Coat (Class A). The coat will be clean and pressed at all times. Brass insignia must be highly polished. All insignia, badges, medals, ribbons, the name plate and cords are worn and properly placed. 

(9) Headgear. Caps will be clean and worn with the JROTC insignia or rank insignia (Cadet Officers). The insignia of rank will be shined. See Figures 1 and 2. 

(10) Army Black Sweater (Optional). See paragraph 4B(2)(c).