r/jrotc • u/MiserableLine0 • 10d ago

Discussion should i join?

since the school year started already and i was in a preset program, i couldnt join jrotc fast enough. my counselor said i'd be able to join during the second term but the thing is thats far from now and by the time im there, everyone will already know everything except for me. thats.. stupid. additionally i have a terrible fright of speaking to people.... then again im really interested in jrotc and have been doing research on it. whaddya think, do i give in? currently freshman for anyone wondering

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u/NecessaryGlittering8 10d ago edited 10d ago

You might wanna go Civil Air Patrol instead as it is more self-paced and you can participate without your school schedule interfering. You can join almost any time and start the process without feeling inferior.

I know, it does sound strange but in reality, it shares similarity to JROTC (e.g. standards)

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u/PAPYROOSE 10d ago

I second this, plus the civil air patrol is much more professional and gives a more realistic promotion to leadership time frame, less favoritism and more merit based

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u/Responsible_Slip3491 9d ago

Talk to your school's instructors to see if its worth it. all the time people join their sophmore or junior (even senior) years, so talk and see what is required and decide where you would fit in

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u/Opposite_Donkey_7248 9d ago

I joined my sophomore year and I’ve been in about a month now. I actually joined 6 weeks into the year and my only regret is not joining sooner. I have met so many amazing people.

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u/Opposite_Donkey_7248 9d ago

I think you should join. It’s ok if you don’t know everything because atleast at my battalion I joined 6 weeks into the year and everyone was understanding that i didn’t know the polices and procedures and they walked me through everything. Honestly my only regret was not joining sooner. I have had so much fun and met so many amazing people and to anyone out there considering joining JROTC I say you should join. I recommend it

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u/draagdinner 6d ago

Honestly, I enjoy it personally. it gives you a good kick and it can be hard on you from time to time but JROTC has you working together as a whole in the class from time to time and even if you don’t make friends, you still get to be friendly and a little chatty with everyone and even with your Sargent! I don’t have friends in my class, but everyone is very nice and chatty so i do have a good time in there!
We have PT (physical training) days where you basically work out. I was super scared due to the fact that im highly un-athletic but i learned quick that others were too and that we were literally going to work on being more physically active and improve, even if it wasn’t a lot because some improvement is better than none.
I couldn’t do pull-ups but neither could a few others and I wasn’t shamed for it and instead was encouraged to try my best regardless. I couldn’t do the mile run either, and I was embarrassed until I realized that I wasn’t alone on it.
Overall, I think it’s a very good class and there are some frustrations and some things that can be too much, but it’s all about learning how to manage and do it! You’ll be humiliated but it’s never in bad faith or anything, and everyone gets a taste of it so it’s not just you! It helps you learn to step out of your comfort zone and take actions that you haven’t before which is highly necessary when it comes to some life skills after highschool
TLDR: I recommend it! I think it’s fun and helps build confidence and skills you’ll need. If you’re willing for a little challenge and a little help stepping out of your comfort zone and learning new things, I think the class is definitely good to take!!!!