While we are very busy and active during the school year NJROTC Cadets are also involved in many Summer Programs and activities during their Summer Break.  

American Legion Programs include: Boys State, Girls State, & Virginia Law Cadet Programs

Area 5 NJROTC Programs include: Leadership Academy & Sail Academy for select students

GHS NJROTC Programs include: School Support, Summer School, Leadership Camp, & Freshman Orientation

Leader Sail is a leadership develop program operated by NJROTC Instructors for JROTC Cadets in any branch. Students spend 1 or 2 weeks sailing and living on a 50 foot sailboat in the Caribbean. 

American Legion Programs

American Legion Boys State & American Legion Auxiliary Girls State

American Legion Boys State & American Legion Auxiliary Girls State are nonpartisan programs that teach young men & women responsible citizenship and love for God and Country. Since the inception of the State programs in the 1930's, over one million young people have had the opportunity to learn first-hand how their state and local government works.

High school boys and girls, who have completed their Junior year, spend an intensive week of study, working together as self-governing citizens at American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary-sponsored State programs. In Virginia Boys State is held at Longwood University and Girls State is held at Radford University.  Expenses associated with attending this program are paid by a sponsoring American Legion Post.

Participants learn how to participate in the functioning of their state's government in preparation for their future roles as responsible adult citizens. 

At Gloucester High School, the NJROTC Instructors nominate 2 Rising Senior Students to attend Boys or Girls State in addition to any students nominated by the Counseling Department

American Legion Youth Cadet Law Enforcement Program

The American Legion Youth Cadet Law Enforcement Program serves to introduce youth to the field of law enforcement’s  principles, discipline, ethics, physical fitness, and teamwork. Programs are conducted in cooperation with local and state law enforcement agencies, and are typically held during the summer at the various law enforcement facilities.

At Gloucester High School, the NJROTC Instructors nominate 6 Rising Seniors to attend the Virginia State Police Junior Cadet program held at the State Police Academy in Richmond.

Area 4 NJROTC Programs

NJROTC Area 4 Leadership Academy

Leadership Academy is intended for upcoming juniors and seniors and is designed to help teach and motivate them for potential leadership positions at their individual Units.  Leadership Academy is physically, emotionally and mentally demanding, but a very rewarding experience.  All cadets who come well prepared will receive a tremendous benefit from this program.  

The Director of Naval Science is responsible for ensuring that only the top candidates are recommended for this training.  The main objective of the Academy is to return a highly motivated cadet who will provide leadership for the unit for the next school year--someone who can come in and supervise, organize and train other unit members. 

Each school in Area 4 (Virginia, Maryland, & Washington DC) can nominate 2 Cadets (1 male, 1 female) to attend, if one of the schools instructors teaches at leadership academy they may nominate 2 of each gender. 

Successful completion of Leadership Academy includes passing a physical fitness test and a series of practical leadership activities. These usually include: Leadership Characteristics for the Cadet Officer, Physical Fitness and the Leader, Field Leadership (orienteering), Obstacle Course, Commanding Troops, Inspecting Troops, Sword Manual, & Social Etiquette and Manners.

NJROTC Area 4 Sail Academy

Selected cadets spend a week with other NJROTC Cadets from Virginia, Maryland, & Washington DC area schools learning to sail small boats. 

Students are berthed on base in Norfolk or Virginia Beach and complete classroom and hands on instruction at Naval Base Norfolk or Old Dominion University Navy ROTC in Norfolk. Students who complete the course earn a small boat sailing certification from US Sailing or US Naval Sailing Association.

GHS Programs

School Support

NJROTC Cadets at Gloucester High spend a significant portion of their summer working to improve their community and their school.  Cadets spend over 600 hours each summer working to change locker combinations on each of the 1800+ lockers in the high school and another 250 hours cleaning and inventorying uniforms in preparation for the upcoming school year.  

In addition to these activities Cadets clean school buses and cook & serve lunch to Custodians at the High School and Transportation Maintenance personnel to say thanks for all they do during the school year.

During open house week NJROTC Cadets can be found supporting their school by handing out schedules to incoming students and serving as tour guides at both Gloucester High School and Page Middle School.  

Summer School

In addition to the many other opportunities we offer during the summer months, returning cadets who meet program requirements during the school year may take advantage of Summer School courses managed by NJROTC Instructors at no cost.  

We offer Health / PE 10 or Personal Economics / Finance, both are online courses that students will complete at home using a computer with internet.  Students taking Health / PE 10 will not complete drivers education through the school and must enroll in a private driving school if they wish to receive their drivers license prior to age 18. NJROTC Instructors are 12 month employees and are at GHS all summer and track progress of students enrolled in Summer School courses weekly.

Leadership Camp

Each summer 12 Cadets are selected to attend our Leadership Camp held at Milford Haven Coast Guard Station in Mathews, Virginia. During Leadership Camp cadets will spend considerable time planning activities for the next school year and discussing unit goals, organizational structure and guidelines. 

Cadets will also develop leadership skills as they participate in physical fitness, team building, military watch-standing, community service activities, and they will also work side by with active duty Coast Guard personnel. 

Freshman Orientation

At the end of each Summer the Cadet Staff welcome the incoming Freshman students and teach them about life in NJROTC as well as outfit them with their uniforms. Freshman Orientation lasts 3 days and requires about 20 Cadets to staff the program. 

During this week Freshman Students are issued uniforms, instructed in military drill, and receive an orientation to the NJROTC program. On the final day Cadets participate in team building activities, enjoy lunch together, and can tour the High School with senior cadets.