Important Dates / History

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) traces its origins back to 1911 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where it was founded by Army Lieutenant Edgar R. Steevers. Steevers, an inspector instructor of the organized military in Wyoming, initiated the program to develop young leaders and instill military discipline in high school students. The first officially established JROTC unit was organized at Leavenworth High School in Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1916, under the National Defense Act. This act formalized the program and aimed to enhance national defense preparedness by fostering military skills among young Americans. In 1964, Congress expanded JROTC to include all military services, transitioning the program from active-duty support to a shared support model involving both the services and participating schools. Today, JROTC focuses on character education, leadership development, and citizenship, operating in over 1,700 high schools across the United States, promoting discipline, respect, and academic achievement among its cadets.