Youth Programs - ROTC & JROTC Awards
Program and Contest Information
The SAR awards the ROTC Medal to foster the principle of the “citizen-soldier”, exemplified by the Minutemen of Revolutionary War days. This award is presented by a Chapter, a State Society, or the National Society to ROTC or JROTC cadets who are selected for having a high degree of merit with respect to leadership qualities, military bearing and general excellence. The recipients are selected by the Commanding Officer of the ROTC or JROTC unit, who should be given full latitude in making the selection.
(February 18, 2010 - Above, Cherise Green, a student at Harding University High School in Charlotte, receives the ROTC Outstanding Cadet Award. Cherise is flanked by her father Morris Green (left) and Mecklenburg Chapter president Paul Callanan (right.) Below, Cherise Green receives her neck ribbon medal from Paul Callanan (behind Cherise) and NCSSAR State President Frank Horton!)
The SAR ROTC Medal is approved by the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Air Force. Each service has notified its ROTC and JROTC units of this approval and has authorized presentation to its cadets or midshipmen.
For ROTC or JROTC units with fewer than 500 cadets or midshipmen one medal will be awarded each year. For larger units, one medal may be presented for each 500 students enrolled in the unit. In cases where a school has more than one ROTC or JROTC unit, each unit is counted separately. It is desirable to have a medal and ribbon bar on display in a trophy case at each school where it is presented. This will serve as an incentive to the students and publicize the SAR ROTC program as well.
The ROTC medal is struck on a circular planchet. The obverse shows a Minuteman holding a rifle and standing next to a plow, with the Liberty Bell in the background. It is inscribed with the letters “ROTC”. The reverse is inscribed “Awarded for Leadership, Soldierly Bearing and Excellence to _____________.” The medal is suspended from a ribbon of the SAR Colors. A ribbon bar in the SAR colors is included and a certificate is available as well.
The Silver ROTC Medal is presented only to students in a college or university ROTC unit. No recipient may receive it more than once. No miniature medal is available. The medal was authorized in 1933.
The Bronze JROTC Medal was authorized in 1965, and is presented only to students in secondary school JROTC. No recipient may receive it more than once. No miniature medal is available.
The Enhanced JROTC Program
In 1997, President General Carl K. Hoffmann, authorized the enhancement of the JROTC program. Each SAR chapter will now select an Outstanding JROTC Cadet and enter that cadet into their State Society’s Outstanding JROTC Cadet program.
The winner of the State competition will be entered into the National Outstanding JROTC Recognition program. The winner of the national program will receive a special award at the SAR’s National Congress.
The National SAR award is to be presented to the Outstanding Cadet in their next to last year of JROTC (a Third Year Cadet [11th grade] in a four year program). For a three year JROTC program, a Second Year Cadet may be selected.
Whenever possible, presentation will be made by a member of the SAR at the unit’s Spring Awards program.
The enhanced JROTC program has several objectives:
1. To identify and recognize Outstanding JROTC Cadets at the Chapter, State Society, and National Society levels. The program has been designed to allow all candidates to be evaluated equally, regardless of the Military Service they represent.
2. To encourage SAR members to make a personal presentation of the JROTC medal to Outstanding JROTC student in the nation
3. To encourage SAR chapters to work with JROTC units to determine how best to encourage and recognize these outstanding student citizens and therefore support this exceptional national youth program.