Developing future leaders: Addison Trail’s Blazer Battalion U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program provides unique opportunity for students

District 88 and Addison Trail High School provide a high-quality and comprehensive learning environment to prepare students to be college and career ready in a diverse society.

The district offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes 18 credentialed career-based curricular pathways; more than 30 Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level courses; more than 50 dual-credit and collegiate-credit courses; more than 15 dual-credit and industry credentialed career pathways at Technology Center of DuPage (such as welding, cosmetology, HVAC, criminal justice, CNC manufacturing and fire science); and award-winning fine arts programming (choir, band, orchestra and art). The district is committed to providing multiple and flexible pathways for students to find postsecondary success and continues to expand access to college credits and industry-recognized certifications to help ensure students are college and career ready.

One unique curricular opportunity available to Addison Trail students is the U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program. See the details below to learn more about this fun, challenging and interactive course, which officially launched in December 2024 at Addison Trail.

WHAT IS THE U.S. ARMY JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAINING CORPS (JROTC) PROGRAM?

• JROTC Mission: To motivate young people to be better citizens.
  
  
• JROTC Vision: To provide a quality citizenship, character and leadership development program, while fostering partnerships with communities and educational institutions.

WHAT DO STUDENTS LEARN THROUGH JROTC?

The program focuses on teaching students the following values.

• Character
  
  
• Personal social responsibility
  
  
• Student achievement
  
  
• Fitness
  
  
• Leadership
  
  
• Teamwork
  
  
• Selfless service to community and others

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THE JROTC PROGRAM?

• ACADEMICS: Grades are based on quizzes; assignments; participation; attendance; and presentations on current events, self-exploration and more. The goal is for students to complete the following four levels of the JROTC program during their high school career: The Emerging Leader, The Developing Leader, The Supervising Leader and The Managing Leader.
  
  
• WEEKLY EVENTS: Every Friday, students participate in physical training. This includes team-building sports and a biannual Cadet Challenge that tests calisthenics, flexibility and running up to 1 mile. Students also participate in a drill and ceremony/uniform inspection each week.

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS TO GET INVOLVED WITH JROTC BEYOND THE CLASSROOM?

• Color Guard
  
  
• Drill Team
  
  
• Archery
  
  
• Robotics
  
  
• Drones
  
  
• JROTC Raider Challenge (obstacle course competition)
  
  
• JROTC Leadership & Academic Bowl (JLAB)
  
  
• JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge (JCLC), which is four days and three nights in June

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ENROLLING IN THE JROTC PROGRAM?

• Access to scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education
  
  
• Ability to enter the U.S. Army two ranks higher than other new soldiers, which leads to an increase in salary
  
  
• Opportunity to build the values and skills listed above
  
  
• Chance to participate in activities to enhance your résumé

For questions or more information about the JROTC program at Addison Trail, including the steps to enroll in the course, contact MSG William E. Jones, JROTC Instructor, at 630-628-3370 or wjones@dupage88.net.