This is you: Determined. Proactive. Prominent.
SJN’s Corps of Cadets is a living leadership lab. Every hour of the day, cadets learn discipline, teamwork, and responsibility through routines that build confidence and character. Cadets practice drill several times each week, prepare for four to five formal campus parades each year, and apply classroom leadership lessons in real time across companies and activities. Supported by adult Trainer Advisor Coaches (TACs), students grow into leaders who are ready for college, careers, and service.
Developing minds and shaping character
The U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is one of the largest character development and citizenship programs for youth in the world. The National Defense Act of 1916 established organized JROTC programs at public and private educational institutions. In 1964, Congress expanded the program to all military services and changed from active duty to shared support from the services and schools. As congressionally mandated by Title 10 United States Code, Section 2031, each military service must have a JROTC program to “instill in students in United States secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States, and personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment.” JROTC’s mission, “To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens”, is the guide post for the program’s success.
The U.S. Army’s JROTC program currently operates in more than 1,700 public and private high schools, military institutions, and correctional centers throughout the United States and overseas. The JROTC faculty is led by nearly 4,000 instructors who are retired from active duty, reserve duty, or National Guard Army service. Instructors are trained and qualified in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act 2007 to teach and mentor approximately 314,000 JROTC Cadets annually. (US Army JROTC)
Choose Your
Future
Military Pathways
Our prestigious program is built around the JROTC curriculum, and if you aspire to a U.S. service academy appointment, or ROTC scholarship, SJN offers preparation and results you can’t get elsewhere.
- JROTC Honor Unit with Distinction, the highest ranking
- 100% JROTC accreditation score
- #1 in Wisconsin for USMA appointments
- Military Academy graduates have earned millions in ROTC scholarships
College & Beyond
Our progressive, college-preparatory education includes the opportunity for advanced placement and dual-credit courses. The JROTC program cultivates emerging leaders who have confidence, self-mastery and compassion, inspiring others by example. You leave St. John’s Northwestern with the resources to succeed in your chosen profession, your personal relationships, and your lifelong goals. The Army JROTC curriculum links content to other disciplines as well as state education standards and teaches cadets to collaborate, reflect and think critically. Cadets gather new information, practice competency, and apply the competency to a real-life situation.
JROTC Program FAQs
Weekdays
- Morning formation and accountability
- Academic blocks with JROTC coursework integrated by grade and role
- Drill or Commandant’s time several days per week
- Athletics or activities including Raiders, Silver Rifles, Color Guard, band, or clubs
- Evening study hall with TAC supervision
Uniforms
- Weekly Reveille updates publish the uniform of the day
- Class uniforms on inspection days, PT gear for training, dress shirts for ceremonies, parade dress for major weekends
Inspections
- Daily spot checks by cadet leaders and adults
- SOP inspections with detailed checklists
- Commandant-level inspections by adult staff for top standards
No. Attending our Military Academy does not mean you’re required to participate in the military after graduation. While many St. John’s Northwestern graduates are admitted to the five military service academies, most advance to the colleges, universities, and professional schools of their choice.
Absolutely! Our goal is to give all students the tools they need to pursue their chosen path. For those interested in attending the military service academies, our preparation stands out. For seven years running, St. John’s Northwestern has held the record for the most West Point appointments. Our JROTC program achieved a perfect score—almost unheard-of among military academies.
We seek students of good character who are ready to be challenged to achieve their best. Many of our students feel “lost in the shuffle” at their current school, or are looking for a structure that helps them realize their full potential. At St. John’s Northwestern, cadets are accountable to each other and feel ownership in the school as well as their personal path.
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