ROTC - Building Tomorrow's Military Leaders

Top leaders in tomorrow's United States will come from today's college students. Among them will be those who have increased their chances for success even more by enrolling in the Reserve Officers Training Corps. They will gain the ability to lead and inspire others to follow. ROTC develops these qualities. The American Legion has a challenge to encourage these young Americans to help their country, and to prepare themselves for positions of leadership.

The American Legion ROTC Medal Awards were established by National Convention mandate as a way in which The American Legion can show its support for ROTC programs throughout the nation. It is another way in which the Legion and the schools can work together 'in the development of our young leaders. The Legion is committed to this worthwhile community service.

After a Post has decided to participate in this program, a committee member will contact the local school(s). In communities where there are two Posts serving a single school, the support program can be a joint venture. Although the emphasis of the ROTC Achievement Program is the awarding of medals to the outstanding individuals in the school ROTC UNIT, support for the units is by no means limited to this activity. By working closely with school officials and ROTC instructors Posts will be able to support their local units in other ways. Cooperation between the Post ROTC Committee and the high school, community college, or college/university is beneficial to the school, the Post, the ROTC Unit, and most importantly, the young ROTC cadet.

Medals

The medals and ribbon bars have been approved for wear by the Department of Defense and Departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Also, criteria for these decorations have been officially approved and are published in each of the Service regulations.

These medals, recognizing Military and Scholastic Excellence, are . available for presentation to Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force ROTC cadets at any college, university, or high school. They come in three forms:

Bronze - awarded to the outstanding high school cadets who have successfully completed the final year of the JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps). It can also be awarded to college freshmen who have completed the Freshman course (100) and qualified for admission to the Sophomore (200) ROTC Course.

Silver - awarded to the outstanding community college/four year college/university ROTC cadets who have successfully completed the Sophomore ROTC (200) course and qualified for admission to the junior (300) course. It can also be awarded to those outstanding cadets who have completed the junior (300) course in a junior/community college.

Gold - awarded to the outstanding four year college/university ROTC cadets who have successfully completed the Senior ROTC(400) course. It can also be awarded to those outstanding cadets who have completed the junior (300) course and qualified for admission to the Senior (400) course.

Recent Department of Defense statistics show that the ROTC nearly doubles any other officer acquisition program in the military service. Not only does the joint effort between Post and school help the local ROTC unit, it promotes the National Security of our country. The challenge is now for our Posts throughout the state to contact and work with school officials in an effort to support our ROTC units through recognition of excellence and any other means necessary.

WILL YOU MEET THE CHALLENGE?
A CO-OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP CREATES BENEFITS

Possible benefit from ROTC Unit to Post

►	Flag disposal ceremonies
►	Four Chaplains Memorial
►	Flag Day Activities
►	Assist with Auxiliary Poppy Drive
►	Place flags on graves for Memorial Day
►	Assist in Veterans Day Activities
►	Assist in Special Olympics Activities
►	Act as escorts, ushers or guides at Legion activities.

Possible benefit from Post to ROTC Unit

►	Present medals & certificates at ROTC award ceremonies.
►	Use of Post home for ROTC ceremonies
►	Member support for Shooting Sports program.
►	Funding for gloves, dickies, laces and material not funded by the military.
►	Award of bonds, scholarships, all kinds of educational support, etc.

Scholarships
The Florida Outstanding JROTC Cadet of the Year recognizes the most outstanding JROTC cadet among all the candidates submitted by each High School JROTC program throughout the state of Florida.  Award criteria and application must be requested by each High School JROTC program Senior Advisor.  Email for application. 

The proposed award consists of the following:

►	Most Outstanding Cadet - 1st Place - $2,000 scholarship
►	Runner Up - 2nd Place - $1,000 scholarship
►	3rd Place - $500 scholarship
►	4th Place - $500 scholarship

Presentation of the JROTC Cadet of the Year award will be made at the annual Department Convention in July.

The American Legion's Junior Shooting Sports Program is a national activity administered through Post sponsored Junior Shooting Clubs. The program exists to provide gun safety and marksmanship training for young people, ages 14 through 20, as well as offering opportunities for competitive shooting which includes an annual national tournament.

The American Legion recognizes the fact that guns are a part of society and probably always will be. Proper instruction in the safe handling of firearms serves as a means of protecting youth and adults alike. Shooting is an attraction for all, and target shooting is not only safe and fun, it is a legitimate athletic discipline. The national network of Legion Posts provide a vehicle to conduct club operations, while Districts and Departments are encouraged to promote and supervise the overall operation of the program.

Air Rifle Tournament

The American Legion conducts a Junior Three Position Air Rifle Tournament which provides the shooters with an opportunity to test their marksmanship ability in competition with other junior shooters from throughout the nation.

The tournament has three phases of competition:
1) State Championships
2) Qualification Round
3) National Championships

Both the state and qualification phases of the tournament are postal matches whereas the National Championship is a shoulder-to-shoulder competition. The State Championships and the Qualification Round will be conducted in accordance with the Official Match Program (OMP) and NRA Position Air Rifle Rules.

Sponsorship: Entry in the tournament is limited to individual shooters or teams who are active members of a Junior Shooting Club sponsored by a Florida American Legion Post.

Age Limits: All contestants must be at least 14 and under 20 as of January I of the competition year. Contestants must be enrolled in a junior or senior high school or be a high school graduate, of that competition year.

Other Limitations: Each competitor may fire on only one set of "official match targets" during the state championship phase of the tournament. A shooter is ineligible to compete in the National Championship in successive years UNLESS he/she is moving FROM Sporter to Precision Category.

Competitors may enter either one of two categories in the tournament based on the type of rifle they wish to use.

The categories are:
 

Precision Air Rifle
Sporter Air Rifle
Sporter Air Rifle Team

The State Championship level of the air rifle match will consist of 60 rounds for record, fired at ten (10) meters (33 feet). Twenty rounds from the prone position. Twenty rounds from the standing position. Twenty rounds from the kneeling position. The qualification level of competition will also consist of 20 rounds in each of the three positions. The NRA 10-meter Air Rifle Target AR 5110 will be used at all levels of the tournament.

How to Order

Official postal targets for the tournament must be ordered by January 31 of each year.  Contact: The American Legion, Attn: Junior Shooting Sports Program, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206. Contact American Legion Post #155 @ 352-795-6526 for more information. 

State Match

Each year Oviedo High School NJROTC with the assistance of Auburndale High School NJROTC and the Department of Florida sponsor a should-to-shoulder match in the month of March.  Teams are invited from all the state to attend this match.  Trophies and medals are awarded in each category of shooting.  Contact American Legion Post #155 @ 352-795-6526 for more information.