The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps was established in 1916 by the National Defense Act. Its mission is "to motivate young people to become better citizens."
JROTC is a high school course which is generally offered in place of physical education. It offers instruction in areas such as citizenship, American history, map-reading, first aid, communication, physical fitness, career choice, military-style drill exercises, and- above all- leadership. While it uses a form of military structure as the framework for its classes, there is no obligation to join the military after high school, or ever.