JROTC

Army JROTC Program

The Hopewell High School Army JROTC Program was established in the 1993-1994 school year. The program initially started with 75 cadets and has grown to over 150 cadets in its ninth year of existence.  In this period of time, the Blue Devil Battalion has achieved great heights, including Honor Unit Awards for the last eight consecutive years and Honor Unit With Distinction for last five years. LTC Pape arrived in Hopewell in 2017 and 1SGT Cabrera arrived in 2005. They are currently the Senior Army Instructor and the Army Instructor.

The Army JROTC mission is: "To Motivate Young People To Be Better Citizens." The course carries a full elective credit, with the option of taking Leadership Lab as another elective credit.  The JROTC curriculum includes: Character and Leadership Development, Foundations of Success, Leadership Theory and Application, Citizenship and American History, Wellness, Fitness and First Aid, Geography and Earth Science, Financial Management and Service Learning. While there are no military requirement following completion of Army JROTC, cadets who complete three or more years of the JROTC Program may enter the military at an advanced rank.

The cadet battalion is organized into two companies, A and B, each containing two platoons with four squads. The battalion headquarters includes the battalion commander, executive officer, adjutant (personal), operation and training, supply, public affairs officers, and the command sergeant major.

In addition to maintaining exceptional curriculum grades and wearing the uniform once a week, JROTC cadets support a wide range of school and community activities.  They participate in: parades, summer camp, a formal military ball, color guard presentations, school assemblies, raider competitions, drill competitions, and basketball games.  They take field trips to places, which are historical, educational, interesting, and fun. Cadets organize fund-raising and participate in patriotic projects.

The Army JROTC Program of Instruction is designed to teach high school students the value of citizenship, leadership, service to the community, and personal responsibility, while instilling in them: self-esteem, self-discipline, and teamwork. Its focus is reflected in its mission statement: "To motivate young people to be better citizens." JROTC cadets are expected to wear the power, career planning, planning skills, cadet challenge, leading situations and orienteering. There are between 120-150 cadets annually within the Blue Devil Battalion. Participation in after-school events is required.