rotc & jrotc awards

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.

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.

2018 JROTC Outstanding Scholarship Winner

ROTC Cadet Navy Y receives his Outstanding JROTC Award from Mecklenburg chapter JROTC Program Chairman Guy Chamberlain in May 2018.

2015 JROTC Outstanding Scholarship Winner

AFJROTC Cadet A’lexus Lee receives her 2015 NCSSAR Outstanding JROTC Cadet Scholarship from NCSSAR JROTC Program Chairman Guy Chamberlain during the NCSSAR annual meeting in Burlington, NC, on April 20, 2015.

2014 JROTC Outstanding Scholarship Winner

Emily Jasienowski is the 2014 recipient of the NCSSAR Outstanding Cadet JROTC Medal, Certificate, and $750.00 scholarship. She was recognized for the Award at the Fort Bragg Club on Friday, May 9, 2014. On the left is MAJ (Ret.) Mark Patton, Terry Sanford HS JROTC Senior Instructor, and presenter Chuck Yard is on the right of Emily.

2013 JROTC Outstanding Cadet Scholarship Winner

April 27, 2013. In the photo above, from left to right, Paul Callanan, NCSSAR State ROTC Awards Chairman, Cadet LTC Joseph Hurst, his parents Mr. and Mrs Hurst, and LTC (ret) Gary Green, President Lower Cape Fear Chapter who nominated Cadet Hurst for the award.

Each SAR chapter selects an Outstanding JROTC Cadet and enters 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 each year in July.

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 Mecklenburg chapter Outstanding Cadet will receive a $250 scholarship from our Mecklenburg chapter. The outstanding North Carolina cadet will be presented a $600 cash award plus $150 for travel expenses to the North Carolina SAR annual meeting, a silver framed ribbon bar containing a silver star for the Minuteman Medal drape, and a certificate recognizing their achievement. The cadet will then be sponsored by the North Carolina Society to the national competition.

JROTC cadets who are juniors in high school are eligible for this scholarship. The Senior JROTC Instructor may nominate one cadet from his/her high school. In 1998 the program was expanded to recognize outstanding cadets at the state and national levels as well. Cadets are nominated to the state competitions by their unit’s Senior Military Science Instructor. Nominees to this program must be in their next to last year of JROTC (e.g. a third year cadet in a four year program or a second year cadet in a two year program). Selection criteria: patriotism, leadership, military bearing, and scholarship. Nominated cadets must rank in the top 25% of their high school class and in the top 10% of the JROTC cadets.

What to include with your nomination package:

1. A completed nomination form, download link below.
2. A recommendation by the Senior JROTC Instructor with comments about the cadet’s leadership potential.
3. A recommendation by the Principal, with verification of GPA.
4. An original essay by the cadet, of 500 to 700 words. The essay may be done on a computer, typewriter, or by hand (in ink). The topic of the essay: “How JROTC has prepared me to be a better citizen of the United States”.

Download the 2019 Enhanced JROTC Program Nomination Form here.

For more information about nominating an outstanding cadet for this scholarship, please contact the Chapter SAR JROTC Program Chairman:

Guy Chamberlain, III 
6332 Woodleigh Oaks Drive 
Charlotte, NC 28226 
(704) 995-6580

email: [email protected]