Qualitative analysis of Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps curricula: should the Services' four curricula be merged?

Abstract

This thesis was completed as part of a comprehensive study of Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (ASD) for Personnel and Readiness Force Management Policy. This research evaluates the possibility of establishing a joint or core curriculum from the JROTC four service curricula. A joint curriculum is a single curriculum used by all the services' JROTC programs and in which all the lessons are identical, regardless of branch of service. A core curriculum varies across the services' programs but contains a core area of instruction where the same content areas are taught to all cadets, regardless of branch of service. The thesis describes areas of the services' JROTC curricula that are similar and those that are different. Stakeholder opinions on the topic are also addressed. Analyses of the curricula show that the creation of a joint curriculum is not feasible. However, the services are covering a lot of common ground in their programs and for a core curriculum to be considered, a joint review of why this common ground differs across the services must be accomplished. Service specific content in these common areas must be evaluated in order to validate or annul their presence.