Amon Carter- Riverside JROTC

  • To understand the importance of high school graduation for a successful future, and learn about college and other advanced educational and employment opportunities.

  • To develop leadership potential, while living and working cooperatively with others.

  • To be able to think logically and to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing

  • To appreciate the importance of physical fitness in maintaining good health.

  • To appreciate the ethical values and principles that underlie good citizenship

  • To develop the skills necessary to work effectively as a member of a team.

Why Join Army Junior ROTC?

Because of the self-discipline, leadership, time management and teamwork skills students learn in JROTC, studies have shown improved outcomes for students in success both in and upon graduation from high school!

Benefits include access to more scholarships, health benefits from physical fitness competitions and exercises, and skill development in areas like leadership, self-confidence, time management, teamwork, communications, personal fitness, career readiness with resume/interview lessons and self-discipline.

There is NO obligation to enter the military by participating in JROTC. Instead, we “motivate young people to be better citizens”.

While JROTC is built around a military theme, we encourage all cadets to pursue their desired career path, whether it be to go to college, become a trade craftsman, or enter the military. The lessons they learn in JROTC will help them be better in their field of choice by teaching them the 'soft skills' to succeed in whatever career path they choose.

JROTC is a character and leadership development program. It emphasizes citizenship, personal responsibility, lifelong learning, and individual success.

Quality Indicators

The following table shows recent FWISD data on how students in JROTC compare to the general school population. Clearly, students who join and remain in JROTC fair better in school than those who do not.

CATEGORY SCHOOL JROTC

Attendance 94.6% 96.8%

Dropout 39 0

Suspension 431 8

GPA 2.6 3.0

ACT 29 32

SAT 846 1320

What is JROTC?

The U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is one of the largest character development and citizenship programs for youth in the world. The National Defense Act of 1916 established organized JROTC programs at public and private educational institutions. The JROTC program is designed to "instill in students in United States secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States, and personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment." JROTC’s mission, "To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens", is the guide post for the program’s success.

Curriculum

The JROTC core curriculum is divided into four years, or courses, and several content areas: JROTC Foundations, Leadership, Personal Growth and Behaviors, Team Building, First Aid, Decision Making, Health and Fitness, Service Learning, and Government and Citizenship.

These courses help prepare young men and women for adulthood and supplement what they are learning in their regular high school classes. For example, Cadets use and further develop writing and communication skills. The JROTC curriculum is based on national standards, including performance-based, learner-centered education. Every classroom is equipped with leading edge technologies to teach, assess, and report student progress. Teachers are trained to use the technologies to develop students’ academic, social, and emotional skills. JROTC learning extends beyond the classroom to include opportunities to solve problems that matter to Cadets in their school, community, or society at large.

These buttons take you to the Army JROTC website and provide good overviews.

Army JROTC Mission:

"To motivate young people to be better citizens"

Vision:

JROTC will provide a quality citizenship, character, and leadership development program, while fostering partnerships with communities and educational institutions.

Values:

  • Character

  • Personal & social responsibility

  • Student achievement

  • Fitness

  • Leadership

  • Teamwork

  • Selfless service to community and others

  • American heritage and history



"To motivate young people to be better citizens"

So, what does this mean?

We want all cadets to pursue their desired career plans, whether it be to go to college, earn a certification in the trades, or to join the military.

We will teach the cadets leadership, team building, personal growth, decision making, health and fitness.

The values we instill in cadets will help them become better citizens, better team workers, better people.



Core Abilities

The JROTC Core Abilities describe the broad, life-long skills that every cadet needs for success in future life and career endeavors and are essential workplace skills that cut across occupational and academic titles. They are different than course competencies in that they are not course-specific. They are not taught in "lessons". Instead, they are broader skills that run through courses and lessons. They "enable learners to perform competencies". The JROTC core abilities help prepare cadets to be successful in business and as citizens.

Core Abilities

  • Build your capacity for lifelong learning.

  • Communicate using verbal, non-verbal, visual, and written techniques.

  • Take responsibility for your actions and choices.

  • Do your share as a good citizen in your school, community, country, and the world.

  • Treat self and others with respect.

  • Apply critical thinking techniques.

Mission of the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC)

The mission of Army JROTC is “to motivate young people to be better citizens.”

About CRHS JROTC Program

  • Our JROTC Program goal is to provide a structured environment while using the most current teaching methods and classroom dynamics to motivate and develop our students into future Leaders and better Citizens through "Academic Excellence".

  • Our JROTC program is staffed by a Retired Officer, Colonel (Retired) Ronald J. Dykstra and a Retired Non-Commissioned Officer, Sergeant First Class (Retired) Antonio Castro-Aybar.

  • Our JROTC program is logistically funded by U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky and administratively supported by the 5th Brigade JROTC Headquarters at San Antonio, Texas.

  • Our Website is where all New Cadets should become familiar with the Class Syllabus, Cadet Creed, Ethos, Leader Oath, Unit History, the Cadet Handbook, and the JROTC Cadet Reference Book.

JROTC does NOT recruit cadets to join the military! The mission of the Carter-Riverside High School JROTC Program is to “Motivate young people to be better citizens.” We accomplish this mission through the use of a comprehensive curriculum that focuses on citizenship, leadership, and the development of foundations for success. JROTC instructors like Colonel Ron Dykstra at Carter-Riverside HS work to help each student determine what they want to do after graduation and guides them to find ways to pay for it.

JROTC Teaches Students to be Leaders. JROTC programs teach students to be leaders. JROTC instructors like Colonel Ron Dykstra at Carter-Riverside HS seek to motivate students to be self-disciplined, respectful and responsible. These skills lead to success not only in high school but in college and adult life too. Integrity and personal accountability, traits stressed in JROTC, are among skills that students will need to compete in a diverse and global workforce.

JROTC Cadets Learn Communication and Other Needed Skills. Students enrolled in JROTC learn to think logically and communicate effectively, both in writing and talking to others. They learn the value of teamwork and how to work cooperatively with others. These skills help people thrive not only in the military but in many of today’s in-demand jobs. Employers look for these skills in employees.

JROTC Stresses Good Citizenship. Carter-Riverside HS’s JROTC program and others focus on encouraging students to be good citizens. They are encouraged to become involved in the community by volunteering for charity organizations and find other ways to give back to their community. Not only students but the community benefits as students learn about citizenship.

JROTC Prepares Students for Graduation. Colonel Ron Dykstra’s goal is to encourage students to understand the importance of graduating high school and consider college and other educational and employment opportunities, including the military. Students learn how to study, take tests, set goals and focus. National statistics show students in JROTC tend to have better attendance, higher graduation rates and higher grade point averages than other students.

JROTC Cadets Enter the Military at a Higher Rank. While it’s not the only benefit, completing a JROTC program does help students advance in the military. A student who successfully completes a JROTC program can enter the service at a higher rank. That means a higher pay. Students can also enter a senior ROTC program in college at a higher rank. JROTC students, however, are under no obligation to join the military.

JROTC Cadets Get a PE credit. Cadets receive credit toward high school graduation (one credit per year) which counts as a Physical Education (PE Credit). In addition, the 12th grade Honors Course provides ‘Honor Graduate’ (assuming grades meet standard), as well as college credit at course completion.

JROTC Cadets have additional options paying for College. Scholarships are available for ROTC Programs as well as nomination opportunities to attend one of the Service Academies (USAF Academy in Colorado Springs, US Military Academy at West Point or the Naval Academy at Annapolis). Financial aid will also be easier to obtain as a successful JROTC Cadet. There are many college opportunities opened up as a Cadet in the JROTC Program throughout and after high school.

JROTC teaches Cadets responsibility and helps with part time employment. Finally, JROTC is a recognized program on job applications and resumes, indicating commitment and focus toward discipline, which indicates honesty, trust, accountability and loyalty toward an employer.

We teach the US Army Core Values:

Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal courage. These letters of the Army values spells out LDRSHIP, which is pronounced as ‘leadership’.

JROTC helps a student well beyond high school success, be it a follow-on occupation, college and/or an enlistment in the military or a commission as a military officer after college. For more information, contact one of the Army JROTC Instructors at Carter-Riverside HS:

Colonel Ron Dykstra: (817) 814-9045

Sergeant First Class Antonio Castro-Aybar: (817) 814-9046




The History of JROTC in FWISD

This informational video explains how and when JROTC started in Fort Worth ISD.

This buttons opens the Youtube playlist for the FWISD JROTC Department, showing all the videos currently uploaded.