Day In the Life of JROTC By: Malik Webster

Across the nation, JROTC programs are designed to prepare students for leadership, discipline, and responsible citizenship. The U.S. Armed Forces describe JROTC as a program that helps students understand their rights, responsibilities and privileges as American citizens, while also building character and communication skills. At Hillgrove, the program follows that same mission, but the students who show up to JROTC every day show what JROTC really looks like in practice.

Nal’e Kennedy a sophomore,  joined JROTC for a lighter reason than most people expect. “Um, the food… like the food on the trips.” But once she got into the program, she quickly saw how structured and connected everything really is. “It kind of forces us to be together,” she explained . “You have no choice but to have some type of chemistry.” Nal’e spends her time working on PARs, advancing through chapters based on rank, and balancing a schedule packed with school and other JROTC expectations. Her favorite memories come from big events like the military ball and the Veterans Day parade, but she also understands the pressure that comes with the program. “You can mess up one thing, and it falls back on everyone,” she mentioned, showing how much trust and responsibility truly do come with the uniform.

For Janiyah Staples a sophomore in JROTC, JROTC is all about discipline and respect,  two things she said hit you on day one. “It gives you discipline,” she explained, and she described how important leadership roles and the chain of command are in the class. Physical training days push students the hardest, especially in the PT room where they run and complete drills. Uniform days bring their own type of pressure according to Janiyah, “they inspect you and your outfit, and even the smallest detail on them matters.” Janiyah also participates in community service through Trail Mountain Club, where students help clean local trails. What she takes most from the program is simple but powerful: “It’s a whole lot of discipline.”

For senior Callie Haley, the biggest part of JROTC is the friendships that form almost instantly. “You’re with a person almost 24/7,” she shared, describing how close you get to the people. She joked about how they motivate each other during tough workouts: “We basically just yell at you while you run.” Callie also talked about how corrections and discipline become normal parts of the experience sharing, “I try my best to listen and take it in,” she also shared  how it teaches cadets not to take things personally. Contrastingly, after all the pressure and hard work it pays off with the fun events they have. For example, her favorite activities include military ball and different holiday events throughout the year. What she is taking with her after high school is confidence and the reminder to keep her circle small and supportive which is expected to take her very far.

Kaylee Richards wants people outside the program to understand what JROTC really is. “We’re not weird,” she exclaimed. “I promise we’re not all weird.” She talked about the importance of teamwork and how each cadet finds their own role, whether it’s volunteering, participating in games, or supporting events. Kaylee also spoke about the pressure that comes with rank and how cadets are trusted to lead and communicate clearly. Her favorite moments come from traditions like the military ball, fall festival, and classroom celebrations as well which makes the program feel like a family. For Kaylee, JROTC is a place to grow, learn, and be part of something bigger.

Hillgrove’s JROTC program looks different for every student, but the message stays the same: discipline, leadership, service, and community are built day by day. Whether students join for the trips, the structure, the challenge, or the friendships, they leave with lessons that reach far beyond the classroom. Behind every uniform is a student finding their voice, learning responsibility, and building habits that will follow them long after high school. Aside from all the awards they honor the school with, they put in a lot of work inside the class.