OUR MISSION

Mission

Our mission is to develop courageous, character driven young adults who possess the attributes of personal responsibility and accountability in order to become model citizens in service to the United States.

MCJROTC History

Since its inception in 1916, the JROTC program has been viewed as a strong program that provides youth with much-needed skills in citizenship and leadership. Additionally, numerous studies have shown that students who participate in JROTC programs have better attendance, grades, and graduation rates relative to students who were in general academic programs. Principals and school administrators also maintain positive attitudes toward JROTC because these programs:

• Motivate  students to learn.

• Foster  a disciplined and constructive learning environment. 

• Instill  essential skills like time organization, responsibility, goal setting, and teamwork.

Unit History

Understanding that there was a need to encourage good citizenship, respect for authority, and love of country; the Oceanside Unified School District submitted an application to establish a Marine Corps Junior ROTC Leadership Education Program into its education curriculum. This application was approved in September of 1970 and Oceanside High School became the 20th school in the United States to incorporate a Marine Corps JROTC program with Colonel Stormy Sexton serving as the Senior Marine Instructor (SMI). In 1978, Master Sergeant Charles Streck became the Marine Instructor and the program expanded to El Camino High School (then called Oceanside East High School). Both instructors would rotate between schools in order to meet the needs of both schools.

In 1979 Colonel Maurice Hunter replaced Colonel Sexton as the Senior Marine Instructor. Colonel Hunter served as the SMI until 1984. Lieutenant Colonel Charles Daniel replaced Colonel Hunter in 1984 and held the position until 1990. Colonel Robert Dietrich became the unit's fourth SMI in 1990 replacing Colonel Hunter. In 1995, First Sergeant Hector Rodriguez was hired as a third instructor for the program. The MCJROTC program at Oceanside Unified School District now had one Senior Marine Instructor and two Marine Instructors, with Master Sergeant Streck serving at El Camino High School. In 2001, Colonel Mike Sullivan replaced Colonel Dietrich as the SMI.

In 2005, First Sergeant Gene LaRue Jr. replaced Master Sergeant Streck as the Marine Instructor at El Camino High School. Master Sergeant Streck served the program and cadets for 27 faithful years.

In 2007, the transition started to stand up El Camino High School as a separate unit from Oceanside High School. In 2008, the OUSD Board of Education and the Director of the MCJROTC program approved the separation of the two schools and reassigned First Sergeant LaRue as the Senior Marine Instructor and and in 2009, hired Master Sergeant Mark Coates to serve as the Marine Instructor for El Camino High School. 

El Camino MCJROTC was named a Naval Honor School each year from 2009-2013. An prestigious honor that recognizes only the very best schools in the nation. 

In 2015 Major Craig Raleigh was hired to serve as the Senior Marine Instructor and in 2020, First Sergeant Justin Ortega replaced Master Sergeant Coates as the Marine Instructor. Major Raleigh and First Sergeant Ortega guided the program through the difficulties brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic and systematic closure of all schools by the state of California. 

In 2022, Captain John Moreno replaced Major Raleigh as the SMI. Master Gunnery Sergeant Mark Rivers was hired later that same year to replace First Sergeant Ortega. The program has since been reinvigorated by reintroducing competitive Drill and Color Guard Teams as well as the creation of the Raider physical competition team. 2023 also saw the introduction of a competitive JROTC Leadership & Academic Bowl (JLAB) where the team qualified for the semi-final round in its first year. 

In SY2-24-25, El Camino MCJROTC returned to top prominance, earning the distinguished title of Naval Honor School, recongizning the the program as a top performing school in the country. 

Unit Awards & Recognition

• Naval Honor School  (top 20% in the nation) SY2024-25, SY2012-13, 2011-2012, 2009-10. 

• Physical Fitness accolades:

  • 2008 men’s and women’s teams 3rd place finishers at the San Diego Regional physical fitness championships 

  • 2010 men’s team 1st place finishers at San Diego Regional physical fitness championships

  • 2011 women’s team 1st place finishers at San Diego Regional physical fitness championships

• Drill Team and Color Guard accolades:

  • 2016 Fontana Drill Meet 1st place for unarmed regulation drill

  • 2016 Orange Glen High School drill meet 1st place armed inspection

  • 2017 Fontana Drill Meet 3rd place armed regulation

  • 2018 Inland Empire Invitational drill meet 3rd place armed inspection

  • 2018 Orange Glen High School drill meet 3rd place armed drill 

  • 2018 Inland Empire Invitational drill meet 1st place armed regulation drill

  • 2019 Inland Empire drill meet 2nd place armed inspection

  • 2019 Inland Empire drill meet 3rd place unarmed regulation drill

  • 2023 Fallbrook Color Guard Competition 3rd place sweepstakes

  • 2024 Fontana Drill meet 1st place unarmed inspection

  • 2024 Fontana Drill meet 2nd place unarmed regulation

  • 2024 fall Brook Color guard  Competition 3rd place Alpha & 3rd place sweepstakes

  • 2024 Drill and color guard Kennedy HS competition first place sweepstakes

  • 2024 Sweetwater Drill and color guard competition 3rd place navis color guard team

  • 2025 dessert hot springs drill comp unarmed drill platoon 1st place

  • 2025 Fontana drill comp armed drill platoon 2nd place

• Raider Team accolades:

  • 2022 Murrieta Valley High School Raider Slayer competition “Best Rookie Team” award

  • 2022 Murrieta Valley High School Raider Slayer competition 3rd place mixed gender division

  • 2023 Army Navy Academy Raider Championships 2nd place mixed gender division

  • 2023 Army Navy Academy Raider Championships 3rd place mixed gender division

  • 2023 Murrieta Valley High School Raider Slayer Competition 1st place mixed gender division

  • 2023 Murrieta Valley Raider Slayer Competition "Best Rookie Team" Award

  • 2023 Santiago AFJROTC 8th Annual Raider Competition 1st place overall mixed division

  • 2023 Santiago AFJROTC 8th Annual Raider Competition 1st place overall male division

  • 2024 Army Navy Academy Raider Championships 2nd place female division 

  • 2024 Murrieta Raider Competition 

  •  2024 Santiago Raider Competition Female team best rope bridge time

  • 2025 Army Navy raider Competition O'Course male best time

  • 2025 Fallbrook Raider Competition Sweepstake 2nd place