Pinellas County Schools JROTC Programs

MISSION:

To motivate young people to be better citizens

CORE VALUES:

Leadership, character and community service are the core tenets of high school Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, or JROTC. Those values are at the heart of the JROTC Cadet Creed that emphasizes working to better the cadet's family, school and country.

PURPOSE:

To prepare high school students for responsible leadership roles while making them aware of the benefits of citizenship OBJECTIVES:

To teach Good Citizenship, Patriotism, Self-Reliance, Leadership, Responsiveness, Appreciation of the role of the US Army, Knowledge of military customs and skills and Appreciation of physical fitness and exercise

What is JROTC?

JROTC programs are taught by retired service members, who undergo extensive background checks and classroom management training. JROTC instructors are full-time school employees working in partnership with the military to provide program leadership.

Coursework includes leadership development, organizational skills, health, nutrition, financial management, military history and customs – which is typically branch specific – physical fitness training, drill instruction, academic competitions and students are required to wear a uniform.

Typically, cadets are going to wear a uniform that mirrors what military personnel wear in their respective branches once a week for a full day at school to receive a grade for proper wear and qualify for co-curricular activities. of the classroom cadets are expected to wear uniforms to JROTC events.

“JROTC Teaches Life Skills and Leadership”, states Sgt. Major Lawrence Fineran, Marine Corps JROTC instructor at Clearwater High School.

Expectations

UNIFORM The uniform is issued to cadets for free. These uniforms are property of the United States military branch sponsoring the school program, loaned to Pinellas County Public Schools for the program. It is a responsibility of the cadets to maintain their own uniforms. This includes laundering, dry cleaning, and any minor repairs. Cadets must return their uniforms at the end of the year. The uniform is worn with pride once a week.

Grooming

In order to participate in JROTC extracurricular activities – Drill Team, Color Guard, Marksmanship, Team, Orienteering/Raiders Team etc, cadets will be required to maintain a specific standard of dress and grooming.

There Is No Military Obligation for JROTC Cadets

Students who participate in JROTC are not required to join the military after high school, and the program is not a military preparation class. "That is not the mission of JROTC at all; the mission is to prepare children to become better citizens," says retired Lt. Colonel Christopher Tompkins, Senior Army JROTC instructor at Gibbs High School.

Pinellas County School JROTC Overview

Pinellas County Public Schools currently has 7 Junior ROTC programs – Four Army, One Marine Corps, One Navy, and One U.S. Coast Guard. Each program is staffed with at least two instructors with between 100 and 150 cadets in each program. Cadets volunteer close to 20,000 hours each year to their schools and their community which has helped many cadets receive Florida Bright Futures Scholarships to college after high school graduation.

The JROTC Curriculum

JROTC curriculum provides equitable and challenging academic content and authentic learning experiences for all Cadets. All lessons are designed using a four-part model to motivate the Cadet, allow the Cadet to learn new information, practice competency, and apply the competency to a real-life situation. Moreover, the four -art model requires Cadets to collaborate, reflect, develop critical thinking skills, and integrate content with other disciplines. JROTC curriculum includes lessons in leadership, health and wellness, physical fitness, first-aid, geography, American history and government, communications, and emotional intelligence.

JROTC Co-Curricular Activities

Cadets participate in a wide range of co-curricular activities to demonstrate their attainment of lesson outcomes. Some of these activities include precision and exhibition military drill competitions, Color Guard support for a variety of school and community events, air rifle competitions, Orienteering/Raider Challenge competitions, JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl (JLAB), Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Camp, and an adventure focused summer camp known as JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge (JCLC). Cadets who complete 4 years of JROTC co-curricular activities and its challenging curriculum will be more college and career ready.

Pinellas County Schools

JROTC Programs

St. Petersburg High School – Air Force

Lead Instructor: Lt. Colonel Devin Tomaseski – tomaseskid@pcsb.org

Junior Instructor: Chief Master Sgt Fredrick Fowler – fowlerf@pcsb.org

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Boca Ciega High School - Army

Lead Instructor: Colonel Jay Jackson – jacksonjay@pcsb.org

Junior Instructor: First Sergeant Carlos Vasquez - vasquezc@pcsb.org

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Gibbs High School – Army

Lead Instructor: VACANT 

Junior Instructor: Master Sergeant Michael Walker – walkermicha@pcsb.org

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Hollins High School – Army

Lead Instructor:Lt. Colonel James Collins – collinsjam@pcsb.org 

Junior Instructor: Command Sergeant Major Edwin Rivera-Rivera – riverariverae@pcsb.org

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Northeast High School – Army

Lead Instructor: Lt. Colonel Kevin Miller – millerkevi@pcsb.org

Junior Instructor: First Sergeant Joseph Walker – walkerjose@pcsb.org

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Pinellas Park High School – Coast Guard

Lead Instructor: Master Chief Michael Collis – collism@pcsb.org

Junior Instructor: Chief Tyrone Stafford – staffordty@pcsb.org

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Clearwater High School – Marines

Lead Instructor: Major Jeffery Hughes – hughesjef@PCSB.org

Junior Instructor: Gunnery Sargent – Martin Ortega -  ortegama@pcsb.org

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Dunedin High School – Navy

Lead Instructor: Commander Garret Jones – jonesgarr@pcsb.org

Junior Instructor: Chief Chris Johnson – johnsonchristoph@pcsb.org