The essence of the Navy Junior ROTC Program at Cary High School is leadership and character development. Students in NJROTC gain discipline, manners, organizational skills, focus, attention to detail and teamwork. There are many tangible and intangible rewards in the NJROTC program. Cadets earn ribbon awards by participation in school and community service, competitive teams, for grades, personal appearance, good conduct and physical fitness. Cadets get promoted in rank based on good behavior, good grades, participation in NJROTC activities, and for displayed leadership. The NJROTC has a chain of command, leadership staff and commanding officer. The cadet leaders make decisions about the unit’s schedule, plans, activities, projects, assignments and promotions.
The Navy Junior ROTC consists of a series of courses and is also a program: We offer a total of eight NJROTC courses at Cary HS, three at the honors level. Courses should, if at all possible, be taken sequentially: Naval Science 1 (9th grade), Naval Science 2 (10th grade), Naval Science 3 (11th grade), and Naval Science 4, (12th grade). The complimentary course for the student who wants to be in NJROTC all year are the Leadership, Drill and Ceremony (lab) courses, which are repeatable for multiple credits. Exceptions to the course sequence or grade level should be approved on a case by case basis by the Senior Naval Science Instructor. The first two NS Courses (1 & 2 can be used in place of the required PE health credit) for graduation.
The Navy JROTC provides a co-curricular set of activities for cadets who are enrolled in at least one NJROTC course during the school year. The competitive activities are: Drill, Color Guard, Marksmanship, Physical Fitness, Academic and Orienteering Teams. The unit also is very involved in school and community service activities. We are the current North Carolina Navy JROTC State Champion and a seven time Navy “Distinguished Unit”.
Detailed information on the Cary
High Courses and Program can be referenced in the current Wake County 2006-07 Program Planning Guide, on pages 79 and 80.
Who is a good candidate for the Navy JROTC Program?
One of our most challenging tasks is getting the information out to students on what the NJROTC Program is and what it is not. This is, of course, where the guidance office can be of most help. To remain viable, we need input of a minimum of 50 plus new students per school year.
The program can be a good fit for a variety of students.
NJROTC is a great option for any student who is looking to add activities to their current resume by being more active in high school. Leadership opportunities abound in NJROTC and they are performance driven not election driven. Many of our leaders in the school are in NJROTC: president of the current senior class, vice-president of the current junior class and three of the recent Cary Community Leadership Students selected are in NJROTC and five of our 22, NS4 cadets are in the National Honor Society. We have a cross section of students that represent the talents and diversity of Cary HS. The past two years the top scholarship winners in total dollar value in scholarships Theresa Viera and Andres Ayure were both NJROTC cadets. NJROTC students are represented in the band, drama and most athletic teams at CHS. We average 3 to 6 ROTC scholarships annually.
Other students who fit very well into the program are students looking for opportunity to participate more actively in their school, students who want to attend military academies or join the military, transfer students, especially those coming from home school, private school, a students moving from out of town or from another JROTC program. We are a small learning community, which allows new students make friends quickly and get off to a good start in a large school like CHS.
We can, on a limited basis, students who have IEPs or who might benefit from a more regimented environment. The success of the student who needs more regimentation is highly dependent on their own desire to be part of the program and their willingness to participate in our co-curricular and after school activities. The student who does not care to be in JROTC, is recalcitrant, won’t get a haircut or wear the uniform is not going to succeed.
Two of the most common questions on NJROTC:
What is the cost and who pays for the uniforms? All uniform costs except lost items are covered by the Navy. The only cost to a student is for the required NJROTC T-shirt ($12) and for the required WCPSS Sports Physical.
What is the military requirement if I take NJROTC? The answer is none. Unlike college ROTC the Junior ROTC IS NOT a program designed to produce service personnel. The program is focused on developing good character and leadership using a military model. To be in NJROTC a desire to be in the military after high school is optional. Most NJROTC students will not join the military after high school or college.
NJROTC is a program that gives many students an opportunity to participate in a positive way and represent their high school in the community and in competitions.
