Welcome to the Parkdale High School Army JROTC Panther Battalion! The mission of the Army JROTC Program is to “motivate young people to be better citizens.” We achieve this in the Panther Battalion by teaching leadership and other character-building life skills and applying them every day. The program equips students with the tools they need to succeed in school and in life and to help them achieve a Legacy of Excellence!

The JROTC program teaches cadets to:

Appreciate the ethical values and principles that underlie good citizenship.

Develop leadership potential while living and working cooperatively with others.

Be able to think logically and to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing.

Appreciate the importance of physical fitness in maintaining good health.

Understand the importance of high school graduation for a successful future and learn about college and other advanced education and employment opportunities.

Develop mental management abilities.

Become familiar with military history as it relates to America’s culture and understand the history, purpose, and structure of the military services.

Develop the skills necessary to work effectively as a member of a team.

Introduction

The JROTC program is designed to teach high school students the value of citizenship, leadership, service to the community, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment while instilling in them self-esteem, teamwork, and self-discipline. This lesson reviews the birth of the JROTC program as well as its purpose of enabling students to meet their goals for success.

Purpose of JROTC

The U.S. Army’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps is designed to teach high school students the value of citizenship, leadership, service to the community, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment while instilling in them self-esteem, teamwork, and self-discipline. Its focus is reflected in its mission statement: “To motivate young people to be better citizens.” It prepares high school students for responsible leadership roles while making them aware of their rights, responsibilities, and privileges as American citizens. The program is a stimulus for promoting graduation from high school, and it provides instruction and rewarding opportunities that will benefit the student, community, and nation.

JROTC prepares high school students for responsible leadership roles while making them aware of the benefits of citizenship. Classroom and outside activities, including service learning projects, become opportunities to acquire the knowledge, discipline, and sense of responsibility that are necessary to take charge of one’s future. The result is responsible cadets who are sure of themselves, can think on their own, and can express their ideas and opinions clearly and concisely.