Leadership For Life
Your Life Can Change -
Starting Now
Chicago JROTC is a leadership and life-skills engine housed inside CPS, not a military recruitment pipeline. Our program is framed as a postsecondary launchpad—college, career, or military—rooted in equity, CPS alignment, and high-quality instruction.
We pride ourselves on being a leadership development program that builds confident, capable young adults—prepared for college, careers, and military pathways through character, discipline, and real-world experience.
What You’ll Get Out of JROTC
JROTC is where you discover your strengths, build confidence, and develop the skills that shape your future. Every lesson, every challenge, and every leadership opportunity helps you grow into the person you’re meant to become.
What JROTC IS NOT
Families often have questions and misconceptions because of the myths created by those who have never been part of the experience.
Here’s what Chicago JROTC is NOT:
- It is not a military recruitment program.
- It does not require students to enlist.
- It is not only for students interested in the military.
- It does not pull students away from academic or extracurricular commitments.
- It is not only for boys.
WHY JROTC MATTERS
JROTC is where you discover your strengths, build confidence, and develop the skills that shape your future. Every lesson, every challenge, and every leadership opportunity helps you grow into the person you’re meant to become.
Attain Real-World Skills With
With Over
5000+ Cadets
Cadets build communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership abilities used in every career field.
Earn over
$55 MM in scholarships
Gain priority access and opportunities for ROTC scholarships and paid internships that others students do not have access to.
Complete More Than
100,000 in
Service Hours
Serve communities through meaningful projects that build character, responsibility, and leadership skills in every stage of life.
Design Your Future In
3 Major
Life Paths
Prepare for college, career, or military service by building confidence, discipline, and the practical skills for life beyond high school.
Test Yourself and Your Leadership Through Our
Annual Events and Competitions
Push your limits through hands-on challenges that build confidence, resilience, and the leadership skills you’ll use for life. Every event tests your teamwork, discipline, and determination—showing you what you’re capable of as a leader.
Excursions and leadership camps
Build discipline and teamwork through precise, coordinated movement.
Drill and regulation
Build discipline and teamwork through precise, coordinated movement.
Raider Challenge
Test your strength, grit, and leadership under intense competition throughout the year
Robotics & STEM Teams
Innovate, problem-solve, and compete using real-world technology skills.
Sports Challenge
Compete citywide and build strength, teamwork, and school pride.
Cadet Rides / Spring Trips
Travel to new places that grow confidence, leadership, and perspective.
We are aligned and part of the
CPS experience
Chicago JROTC is offered in high schools across the city, including three designated military academies and dozens of CPS campuses. Every student has a path to join—no prior experience required and can start as early as 7th grade.
5
Military Academy
High Schools
+
33
Schools
With JROTC Programs
