A bipartisan group of senators, led by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., have introduced the Preserving JROTC Programs Act.
The legislation would reduce the statutory enrollment requirement for JROTC programs from 100 to 50 students to prevent programs from shuttering.
According to U.S. Army enlistment data from Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-2021, 44% of regular army enlistments came from schools with a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) JROTC program. Of these, 21% came from schools with an army JROTC program. According to the U.S. Air Force, approximately 22% of students graduating high school with air force JROTC experience choose to pursue active-duty Air Force service.
“JROTC programs play a critical role in instilling values of citizenship and responsibility, and in many cases, inspiring young people to serve our country,” Capito said. “I was alarmed to hear that a JROTC program in West Virginia was slated for closure this year, especially considering our state’s storied history of patriotism and service to our country. Thankfully the school was given one more year of eligibility. I’m proud to introduce this legislation, which will prevent the closure of well-attended JROTC programs when our young people and our country need them the most.”
Section 2031 of Title 10 requires a JROTC program’s minimum enrollment to be at least 10% of the total number of students enrolled at a school, or 100 students, whichever is less. This enrollment requirement is resulting in closure or probationary status for JROTC programs around the country, including in West Virginia and New Hampshire.
In November 2023, the Air Force announced it would deactivate the JROTC program at Cabell Midland High School for failing to meet the statutory enrollment requirement. Following this announcement, Capito and Congresswoman Carol Miller, R-W.Va., pressed the Air Force about the decision and ultimately, the program was granted a one-year extension to achieve its enrollment goals.