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Alabama JROTC has a proud tradition of preparing young cadets for leadership roles, and we’re excited you want to be part of this legacy. Together, we can develop the future heroes of Alabama!

Regardless of branch, JROTC programs teach cadets the importance of ethics, citizenship, communications, leadership, life skills, character education, service learning, and other subjects designed to prepare young people to take their place in adult society.

Frequently Asked Questions

Great question! The answer depends based on your location and the JROTC program you’re interested in launching. In order to be considered, you have to submit an application with one of the JROTC Cadet Commands listed lower on this page. The JROTC Cadet Command will review your application and connect with you to ensure your school meets the necessary guidelines to host a program. Each service area has different guidelines that a school system must comply with before a program is granted. (I.E space, funds, student population of the school, a set minimum number of students that must be enrolled in the program, etc.

The school system must commit to keeping the JROTC program for at least two years. A contract is signed between the school superintendent and the military. Since JROTC falls under the auspices of Career and Technical Education, the school system’s CTE administrator must be in on all decisions made to begin the program. The salaries and benefits for each JROTC instructor is budgeted against Maintenance of Effort (MOE) for CTE in that system.

Two JROTC instructors counts as one instructional unit, because the system will be responsible for paying 100% of the salary and benefits for each instructor up front and reimbursed by the respective branch of service 50% of that salary only.

A JROTC unit is required to be staffed with a minimum of two instructors. JROTC Instructors normally consist of one retired officer (the Senior Army Instructor, or SAI) and one noncommissioned officer (the Army Instructor, or AI). A school system can recommend an instructor to the cadet command to teach after an interview is conducted. 

The Army reimburses schools for a percentage of each instructors pay and provides Cadet uniforms, equipment, automation, and an accredited and rigorous curriculum. 

Contact your respective Cadet Command below for more information.

Launch a Program

Contact Your Respective Cadet Command

Army JROTC

Jerome Gates

US Army 6th Brigade

3435 Snooper Road
Redstone Arsenal, 35898
256-665-8569
Jerome.gates@usacc.army.mil

Air Force JROTC

Michael Wetzel

Holm Center/CR

551 E. Maxwell Blvd.
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6106
334-953-7236
Michael.wetzel.5@us.af.mil

Naval JROTC

Merlin Ladner

ladnermw@training.navy.mil

William McCandless

251-968-4774
McCandlesswb@training.navy.mil

BLDG 602-2C-RM-217
4400 Dauphine Street
New Orleans, LA 70146-6400

Marine Corps JROTC

COL Charles DeLair

General Training and Education Division

ATTN: C469MCC
3300 Russell Road
Quantico, VA 22134-5012
703-910-1395
Charles.delair@usmc.mil