Mechanicsville NJROTC

What is NJROTC?

N.J.R.O.T.C. stands for Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. The NJROTC program was established by Public Law in 1964 by Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 102. The program is conducted at over 580 accredited high schools throughout the country with over 90,000 students enrolled nationwide, and taught by instructors who are retired Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers and enlisted personnel.

The NJROTC accredited curriculum emphasizes citizenship and leadership development, as well as our maritime heritage, the significance of sea power, and naval topics such as the fundamentals of naval operations, seamanship, navigation and meteorology. Classroom instruction is augmented throughout the year by extra-curricular activities of community service, academic, athletic, drill and orienteering competitions, field meets, visits to military activities, marksmanship sports training, and physical fitness training. Electronic classroom equipment, textbooks, uniforms, educational training aids, travel allowance, and a cost-share of instructors' salaries are provided by the Navy.

The NJROTC Program is a Citizenship Development program developed in 1964 to help high school students be successful and manage the many challenges they face throughout their teenage years and beyond. The Program is a high school elective course based on a military model (uniforms & rank structures, etc) but we are not a recruiting program and joining the program does NOT obligate any time of service!

Who is Mechanicsville NJROTC?

MISSION: The mission of Mechanicsville NJROTC is to teach High School students our core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment, and empower them to continue their education, achieve personal and team goals, and become productive American Citizens.

AWARDS: The Mechanicsville Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) was established in July of 2000. Since 2000, the unit has received 3 Unit Achievement Awards (2004, 2011, and 2013) and 2 Distinguished Unit Awards (2002 and 2012). The Company received the Most Improved Unit in Area 5 and place 5th in Most Improved Units in 2011.

SUMMER PROGRAMS: Each summer we send cadets to programs such as NJROTC Leadership Academy, NJROTC Sail Training, Virginia State Police Academy Law Cadet Program, American Legion Boys State of Virginia, and American Legion Auxiliary Girls State of Virginia.

SERVICE: In addition to traveling to numerous NJROTC Team Competitions and field trips, we also very active performing community service. Each Cadet in our program is required to complete between 40 and 60 hours of volunteer community service per school year. Last year our unit completed over 7,000 hours of community service.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: It takes several thousands of dollars per year in fundraising to effectively operate the NJROTC Unit and allow our cadets the opportunities we provide to prepare them for success. The Navy provides uniforms, curriculum, classroom equipment, and a portion of instructors salary, and the Hanover County school division provides classroom space, utilities, and a portion of instructors salary.

We must pay for competitions, lodging, transportation, and food for travel out of our own fundraising efforts. We do not sell cookie dough, candy bars, or anything else. Our only fundraising efforts are donations provided by supporters.

Please consider a tax deductible contribution today!

What does the NJROTC program do?

Promotes patriotism
Develops informed and responsible citizens
Develops respect for constructed authority
Develops leadership potential
Promotes high school completion
Promotes higher education
Promotes community service
Develops a high degree of personal honor, self-reliance, individual discipline and leadership
Promotes an understanding of the basic elements and need for national security
Provides information on the military services as a possible career
Provides an alternative to gangs
Provides incentive to live healthy and drug free

What are the student enrollment eligibility requirements?

Be enrolled in and attending a regular course of instruction in a grade 9 through 12 at the school hosting the unit.
Be physically qualified to participate fully in the physical education program of the host school.
Maintain acceptable standards of academic achievement and an academic standing that warrants at least normal progression leading to graduation.
Maintain acceptable standards of conduct.
Comply with specified personal grooming standards. Common sense and good judgment apply to the attainment of these standards. Standards will not be relaxed so as to reflect discredit upon the naval service.
Under the secondary school open enrollment policy and when desired by the principal of the host school, students in grades 9-12 who are otherwise ineligible for regular NJROTC enrollment may enroll as special NJROTC cadets.
Special NJROTC cadets may participate in school approved NJROTC activities, be called naval cadets, wear the uniform, participate as cadet officers, and go on field trips and orientation visits to military installations.
Special NJROTC students may not, however, be counted with that number required to maintain an NJROTC unit. Any special equipment or additional staff that may be needed to instruct special NJROTC students is provided by the school.

What are the benefits of NJROTC?

Approximately 60 percent of the NJROTC cadets who are graduating seniors continue to higher education.
The program is free to the cadets that join.
The NJROTC program is motivational in encouraging cadets to graduate from high school and continue to higher education offering free ACT/SAT preparation.
NJROTC cadets are better behaved, have higher attendance, are role models for the avoidance of substance abuse, have higher self-esteem, develop positive life skills, on average have higher grade point averages and graduate at a higher rate.
Cadets learn the value of teamwork and individual accomplishments from belonging to NJROTC.
The character education in NJROTC teaches values, principles, and self-discipline promoting positive, productive behaviors and provides a support structure that is critical not only in helping cadets avoid the use of drugs, but living a healthy and fit lifestyle.
NJROTC provides the opportunity for secondary school students to learn the basic elements and need for national security and their personal obligations as Americans.
The program enhances the image of the military in the eyes of the community by providing a chance for success to the nation's youth.
While the training is along military lines, it is conducted so as to encourage initiative and individuality to develop natural gifts, to teach self-control, develop personal character, responsibility and qualities of integrity, loyalty, and dedication.
Cadets accepted for enlistment, who provide evidence of successful completion of at least 3 years of NJROTC are entitled to advanced promotion to pay grade E-3 upon initial enlistment in an active or reserve component of the Army, Navy, or Air Force, and pay grade E-2 in the Marine Corps; or completion of 2 years are entitled to E-2 (except in the Marine Corps and Air Force).
Senior Naval Science Instructor is authorized to nominate a maximum of three eligible cadets each year to compete for U.S. Naval Academy appointments.
Administrators of host schools that are designated as Distinguished Units with Academic Honors may nominate three eligible NJROTC cadets as candidates for appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and U.S. Air Force Academy in addition to the three nominations above to the U.S. Naval Academy.

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