How did your JROTC experience benefit you when you joined the military?

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 13:46:32 -0400

Sounds like a no-brainer question, but I have a specific reason for asking. My daughter is just starting her Freshman year in high school and JROTC. Her goal is to join the Army and be a military policewoman.

My question is aimed at those who attended JROTC in high school, or those who know someone who did. I can imagine that JROTC would be a great help, no matter what a person decides to do in the military -- enlist, service academy, college ROTC, etc. I know when I enlisted, I was about as naïve as a person could be. I'm expecting my daughter to be much better prepared than I was.

I'm hoping to hear about the experiences of those who attended JROTC, and how JROTC helped you when you joined the military.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Oct 10 at 2014 1:50 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 13:50:58 -0400

I know on the AF Side, you get E2 or E3 depending on how many years you did JROTC

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2014 1:51 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 13:51:59 -0400

I did Navy JROTC, which meant we had a Marine instructing us in marksmanship. It was nice, because it meant I knew how to fire from kneeling back when the Army was only teaching foxhole and prone.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2014 1:57 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 13:57:24 -0400

I was an Army JROTC Cadet. Ironically, I was the Cadet CSM :)

Definitely helped in IET. Plus I went in as a PFC. The only down side was the Drill Sergeant picked up on it and made me PLT guide. Spent a lot of time getting smoked in the sand pit. Built character though!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2014 2:13 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 14:13:05 -0400

I enlisted as a PFC and I knew my 3 General Orders.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2014 2:18 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 14:18:22 -0400

It made me a PFC when I enlisted. I also learned to walk around in an organized cluster. With all that being said I guess it all worked out pretty good. But I didn't get busted down to E-1 in my last year. I don't really recall why but I am pretty sure it was on par with having a DUI.

Response by SFC Vernon McNabb made Oct 10 at 2014 3:05 PM

SFC Vernon McNabb — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 15:05:59 -0400

I spent all 4 years of high school in JROTC.
Benefits:
Came in as a PFC, so a little more money each month
I was Drill Team Commander for 2 years, so that helped when it came to D&C
I went to the two week summer camps each year, so that helped with BRM, NBC, Grenade Range, setting up claymore mines, and a host of other fun things I no longer do...
I knew the rank structure forwards and backwards, and I knew not to call my DI, "Sir".
I knew marching and PT cadences.
I knew how to wear the uniform (BDU) and how to get a high shine on my boots.

Downsides:
I knew marching and PT cadences, and had to sing them. I sing solo, So Low nobody hears me.
Since I outranked everyone in my platoon, I was made the Platoon Guide and got blamed for anything and everything. Learned real quick that poop rolls downhill.
I found myself disagreeing with my DI about D&C on a couple of occasions. Learned not to disagree in front of the platoon.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2014 3:17 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 15:17:03 -0400

Jrotc is similar to rotc and the real army in the sense that it's all about who you know and favoritism. However there wasn't anything physical about it. Just color guard and marching around. It was fun but I think it's better to use that hour for a more worthwhile class like a science or a math.

Response by Cpl Christopher Bishop made Oct 5 at 2015 1:56 AM

Cpl Christopher Bishop — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 01:56:17 -0400

It makes Boot Camp easier in terms of all of the information you have to cram into your skull, some of it is already there.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2017 8:54 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 20:54:59 -0400

I was in for my four years of high school. I have to agree with 1LT, I learned to walk around in an organized cluster. But it gave good life skills as well, like being responsible and being a good leader. Lots of good groups as well. If you have 4 years on your transcript it'll promote you to PFC when you enlist. I was my company 1SGT, which gave me a lot of power and I learned what it meant to be a leader. I honestly loved it and I recommend it to any student who has the interest in it and to any parent who might be worried about it.

Response by Matt Moon made Oct 9 at 2018 6:23 AM

Matt Moon — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 06:23:16 -0400

Being in the Civil Air Patrol & Young Marines. Wich granted me E-2 Private Frist Class in the Army State Guard. So I'm swearing in knowing what's allready expected of me. I allready know how to march. I know the Phonetic Alphabet, how to properly use a radio, Military Time , Rank , Genral Orders .

Response by Matt Moon made Oct 9 at 2018 6:26 AM

Matt Moon — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 06:26:27 -0400

How do you get offerd E-3 Private First Class? I was offerd E-2 Private Second Class.