October 24, 2024 - Comal ISD offers a Junior Reserves Officers’ Training Corps program on five high school campuses. JROTC is more than a path to military careers, it is an organization that provides students opportunities to create connections with their peers, explore fields that interest them in a dynamic way, and apply their hard work in a competitive environment.
While every JROTC program is structured similarly, each high school campus belongs to a specific military branch, featuring different curriculum and competitive opportunities. Canyon High School is an Air Force JROTC, Canyon Lake High School and Davenport High School are Army JROTC and Smithson Valley High School and Pieper High School are Navy JROTC.
“We are not the military or a bootcamp,” says Commander Scott Outlaw at SVHS.
The resources provided through each program give students the best opportunity at success after high school graduation, whether that be in the military, college, or in a trade. In fact, instructors tailor the curriculum to teach universal life skills.
“We teach students how to not go into debt, how to balance a checkbook, how to apply for a loan - skills they will need to be successful in life,” explains CHS Lt. Col. Timothy Biltz.
For students interested in pursuing a military career, JROTC provides scholarship opportunities, real-world experiences from instructors, and an advantage of entering the military at a higher rank, depending on the amount of years they spend in the program. This results in a higher wage compared to similarly-aged cadets.
At CLHS Col. Robin Adams-Massenburg mentors her students by matching them with a program that will further develop them beyond Canyon Lake.
“We’re ensuring that regardless of their path, they will return to our small town with a skill set they can use professionally,” she says.
Academically, Col. Adams-Massenburg has developed an engaging game to further support her students. On Fridays, students participate in a jeopardy game to prepare for tests such as the SAT, ACT, and ASVAB. The ASVAB is a standardized test used by the military to assess a person’s eligibility for service. Peer-mentoring and tutoring are encouraged by all instructors, as students must be in good academic standing to participate in the program.
“The program teaches accountability and a level of personal responsibility. Our goal is to prepare them for the future,” explains Commander Outlaw.
Additionally, JROTC provides students with the opportunity to be involved in competitions which help them develop leadership skills. Competitive JROTC teams include orienteering, color guard, sabre guard, armed and unarmed drill team, CyberPatriot, air rifle, as well as physical fitness and academic teams. Depending on the branch, a program may have different teams available to students.
These teams are comparable to athletics and fine arts requiring students to attend practice as well as compete in district, region, and national competitions. At SVHS, a student involved in a JROTC team for 2+ years earns a complimentary letterman jacket. The physical portion of the program also provides students with a PE equivalent credit.
Being involved in JROTC can open many doors for a student, whether that be providing an opportunity to feel included in a team, guidance for their professional future, leadership and character development, and scholarship opportunities to jumpstart their careers.
Comal ISD is proud to offer a program that exemplifies its mission and values. Thank you to the high school JROTC instructors for cultivating an environment that fosters growing greatness.
Thank you JROTC for creating a Path to Success for students!
Photo descriptions
- Canyon Lake High School Col. Robin Adams-Massenburg
- Canyon High School JROTC students participate in a team building day
- Davenport High School JROTC students training
- Smithson Valley High School JROTC field trip
- Davenport High School JROTC sabre guard practice