What are we?

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a class at the high school where you can learn a lot, have fun doing it, gain some unique and valuable experiences, meet your Career and Technical Education (CTE), PE, Art, World Language, and/or Elective credit requirement, and all at no cost to you?  There is such a program at Rockledge High School – The Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC).

The Raider Battalion.

JROTC is a structured class that helps develop high school students into leaders while teaching them skills that will help them in all their classes.  You will learn about your community, your school and yourself.  You will be challenged mentally and physically.  You will make new friends and learn skills that will help you both in and out of the classroom.  You will be part of a team of motivated young men and women seeking to make a positive difference.

Why are we the Raider Battalion?

A "Raider" is a type of a fast lightly armed ship operating against merchant shipping  or Soldier specifically trained for close combat.   The term came into the English language in 1861and has been grown to have various meanings; invader, aggressor, etc.  The colors of the Raider Battalion are Red and Blue.  The Blue represents the freedom and inspiration given to us to set standards and lead fellow cadets while developing our program.  The Red represents our courage and health to do what is right and to persevere while teaching our junior cadets right versus wrong and molding them into future leaders.  All while leaving our comfort zones to develop ourselves into better citizens.  

Since inception as Rockledge High School, our namesake, has been the Raider.  For this Battalion, a Raider is our bastion of solidarity as we move swiftly through rough waters to seek knowledge and truth in both academics and life.  We will move forward through the currents combating our academics, moving through uncharted waters and forward to mold "young people into better citizens."

Let us give you the facts on this great leadership and character development program.

• There is no requirement to join any military service.  We encourage the young men and women in our program to seek college or trade education following graduation from high school.  The JROTC program is not a recruiting tool for the military!

• The only cost associated with the program is the student lab fee.  We provide all uniforms and equipment you will need.  Students are required to wear the JROTC uniform at least one day a week. Again, we have a nominal Lab Fee that helps support our program so that student cadets have the best educational and competitive experiences possible.

In addition to classroom academics, the JROTC program offers a variety of co-curricular (before and after school) activities:

• A Color Guard team that presents our national flag during school, community and state events and ceremonies and that competes several times a year.

• Air Rifle, Raider and Drill teams train for and compete in several competitions a year.

• Community service projects that give students practical experience helping others in need and that fulfill graduation requirements.

• Formal events that expose students to proper social behavior.

What Do We Expect?

We expect that students in our program will be disciplined, respectful, honorable, hard working, committed to the program and always be team members.  Students willing to embrace these qualities will do well in JROTC and anything else they attempt.  If you are looking for a unique class that will help you have fun, meet positive people and become involved in our community as well as a program that will develop your academic, social, and leadership skills, then JROTC is for you.