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• History of JROTC
• JROTC Leadership Courses
• Cadet General Orders
• Marine Corps Junior ROTC

History of JROTC

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps came into being with the passage of the National Defense Act of 1916. The focus of JROTC was on secondary schools. Under the provisions of the 1916 act, high schools were authorized the loan of federal military equipment and the assignment of active or retired military personnel as instructors on the condition that they followed a prescribed course of training and maintained a minimum enrollment of 100 students over 14 years of age.As the years passed the JROTC program went through a large amount of struggles to remain a part of high schools. It now holds a spot in thousands of student's schedules across the nation and has been changing the lives of many students. Although the instruction of each class is different across the nation the curriculum itself is consistent. The students study military history, technology, citizenship, communications, leadership, map reading, first aid and drug awareness.

On September 1, 1995 Mount Vernon High School was recognized for its excellent academic, and community relations by former Secretary of the Navy Mr. John Dalton. Mount Vernon was now declared a host institution of a Marine Corps Junior ROTC program under the ROTC Vitalization Act, Public Law 88-647. In 2001, six year after the start of the program, Mount Vernon JROTC was recognized as an Honor School by the Marine Corps of the United States.

The JROTC program is divided into four different years. The first can be entered at any time during a student's high school career. The four different levels consist of new exposure to the program. Each level follows a Leadership Education and Training curriculum that gives the students maximum exposure to the appropriate subject.

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JROTC Leadership Courses

LE-1-The Leadership Education and Training 1 class is the first course taken in the four year program. It provides the cadets with an introduction to both leadership and citizenship. It also exposes the cadets to personal growth and responsibility and establishes a foundation of military structure and tradition.

LE-2-The Leadership Education and Training class 2 is the second course that continues the leadership and citizenship classes but also begins to expand to a whole new level. The students receive instruction in General Military Subjects with more structure and tradition than in their first year. There is also an introduction to civilian marksmanship training and land navigation training with map and compass. Personal growth and responsibility is an ongoing subject that takes place throughout the entire program.

LE-3-The Leadership Education and Training 3 is the third course in the program and it is the year in which the students apply what they have learned to real life situations. As the students assume certain leadership positions they begin to use the leadership training that they have received years before. Life beyond high school now becomes one of the important subjects in the curriculum. The students become aware of how to manage personal finances and prepare for more serious responsibility.

LE-4- The Leadership Education and Training 4 class is the last year in the JROTC program. All of the students previous years of training now play a major role in their experience in the program. The senior cadets conduct formations and inspections throughout the year. They supervise certain training events with the younger cadets and become role models for them. Within their own class the senior cadets continue to become challenged with research projects and independent studies throughout the course of the year.

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Cadet General Orders

At Mount Vernon the cadets in the JROTC program are expected to present themselves in a professional and disciplined manner in and out of the classroom. The program instills self discipline in its students by making rules and regulations that need to be followed known to them. These regulations are known as the Cadet General Orders. The cadets are expected to follow them in the classroom but also carry them out into the world.

1. To take charge of myself and accept responsibility for my actions and deeds.
2. To conduct myself in a manner that will reflect favorably on my family, my school, my community, the Marine Corps Junior ROTC program and me.
3. To live a life of honesty and integrity.
4. To be a great student by: greeting my teachers, contributing in class, taking notes, doing homework and studying.
5. To respect public laws and regulations.
6. To wear my uniform proudly and with distinction mindful of the proud tradition it represents. To wear appropriate civilian clothing.
7. To strive to improve myself physically, mentally, and spiritually.
8. To treat others with dignity and respect regardless of race, religion or gender and to address adults with "Yes, or No Sir or Ma'am".
9. To be especially watchful for potentially dangerous or illegal situations and to report the situations to proper authority.

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