1. Isn't JROTC just for students interested in the Military service?
2. Does it cost much to be in JROTC?
3. Do I have to wear that Army uniform at Lakeside?
4. What advantage does taking JROTC have if one does go into the Military?
5. Does a student have to be a Freshman to start out in a JROTC course?
6. Will a job or other commitment after school keep me from being in JROTC?
7. Will I get academic credit for taking a JROTC course?
8. Are the JROTC instructors active military or regular teachers?

Isn't JROTC just for students interested in the Military service?

JROTC is not just for students planning to enter the military. 
The majority of JROTC students never enter the military directly. 
The course provides a lot of useful information about" Uncle 
Sam's" Military Forces, but the real result of taking this 
elective in High School is to teach or refine your 
leadership, teamwork, and communication skills and help young 
people to become better citizens.  The course also provides many 
opportunities to compete on a high school team with the 4 teams 
sponsored by JROTC. They are: The Drill Team, The Color Guard, 
The Raider (Adventure Training Team), and the Precision Air Rifle 
Team (GHSA sponsored team also open to non-JROTC enrolled 
students). These teams travel all over Georgia and the 
Southeast for exciting competition.  Field Trips for all JROTC 
students are also taken twice a year to various military bases to 
observe training and experience the activities at these active 
military locations. Past school-sponsored JROTC trips have 
included Parris Island, SC, Kings Bay Submarine Base, GA, 
Warner Robins Air Force Base, GA, Shaw Air Force Base,SC, Fort 
Jackson, SC and Fort Gordon, GA. JROTC students are required to 
participate in the annual Military Ball (a fun-filled social 
event similar to a junior-senior prom), local parades and service 
learning projects throughout the local community.

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Does it cost much to be in JROTC?

Not at all. The JROTC uniform items and textbooks are provided 
free on a loan basis and all competition, field trips and other 
JROTC activities are free or minimal cost (supported by donations 
and fund raisers).  JROTC T-shirts are $10.00 and the hoodies are 
$21.00 this year. Either is required for most of our field trips.

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Do I have to wear that Army uniform at Lakeside?

Yes , about 9-10 times a semester.  Proper wear and care of the 
uniform is part of learning responsibility and attention to 
detail and accounts for 25% of the JROTC grade. The uniform is 
worn on most Wednesdays but occasionally cadets are given the 
option to wear the Lakeside JROTC t-shirt/hoodie. Uniform wear is 
normally not required on the Wednesday's 
during Spirit Week; each semester. Students that are members of a 
JROTC team are issued the camouflage ACU uniform which may be 
worn on some uniform days.

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What advantage does taking JROTC have if one does go into the Military?

It can mean more money and prestige (rank) for those that enlist 
in any of the military services. A student that takes 2 or more 
years of high school JROTC can become and receive the pay of a 
Private First Class (instead of a Private) immediately after 
completing Basic Training. Additionally, the experiences learned 
in JROTC will normally make a future Basic Training "experience" 
easier and give a trainee that has had JROTC an advantage over 
one who has not. This could result in increased opportunity for 
leadership positions, promotions, favorable personnel actions, 
etc. A JROTC student that goes on to a college or a university 
and enrolls in Senior ROTC will typically have an advantage in 
receiving ROTC scholarships.

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Does a student have to be a Freshman to start out in a JROTC course?

No, many students at Lakeside enroll in their first JROTC course 
during their sophomore, junior or senior year.

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Will a job or other commitment after school keep me from being in JROTC?

Not at all. The after-school JROTC extracurricular activities and 
teams are completely optional. A student can be successful in a 
JROTC course by only participating during the class taken during 
normal school hours. Of course, those students that do 
participate in other JROTC activities typically get 
more practice in teamwork, leadership and confidence building 
skills that usually result in getting more out of the total JROTC 
experience.

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Will I get academic credit for taking a JROTC course?

Of course. JROTC is one of the many electives that can be taken 
by a student at Lakeside. As such, they receive the same academic 
credit as any other elective course at the school.  Effective SY 
2003-2004, students taking JROTC beginning in their freshman year 
are exempt from taking both a physical education (PE) and health  
for taking (3) years of JROTC.

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Are the JROTC instructors active military or regular teachers?

All JROTC instructors are retired, after 20 or more years of 
honorable service in the military. These personnel have been 
through a selection process and certified to teach JROTC by the 
government and are recognized as certified teachers (for JROTC) 
by most all states to include Georgia. They have all been 
selected , hired and paid by their local school systems as are 
any other teacher at the school. Part of their pay, however, is 
provided to the school system by the military. Most all JROTC 
instructors have a 4-year degree and many have advanced civilian 
education degrees earned at a college or university.

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