The Effect of High School JROTC on Student Achievement, Educational Attainment, and Enlistment

Abstract

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) is a high school initiative that serves many at-risk students. Its goals range from reducing dropout rates and improving academic achievement to preparing students for military careers. Using data from High School and Beyond (HSB) and the National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS), we estimate average treatment effects on students attending schools that typically host JROTC. Applying a twostage matching technique, we find that JROTC participants have poorer academic outcomes than other students; although, a large portion of these differences is explained by their at-risk status. In addition, program effects appear to differ by demographic group, with black participants having lower dropout rates than white participants. The program also appears to improve self-esteem scores of females. Although the majority of JROTC participants do not join the military, we find large marginal enlistment effects.

Geographic and Demographic Representativeness of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps

“…Two studies (Pema and Mehay, 2009a;Biggs, 2010) found a positive correlation between JROTC and enlistment. One study found a positive correlation only for students who enrolled in JROTC early in high school and persisted in the program through senior year (Pema and Mehay, 2009b).…”

“…Two studies (Pema and Mehay, 2009a;Biggs, 2010) found a positive correlation between JROTC and enlistment. One study found a positive correlation only for students who enrolled in JROTC early in high school and persisted in the program through senior year (Pema and Mehay, 2009b). Another study found that the impact of JROTC participation on military enlistment decisions is negligible when self-selection into the JROTC program is accounted for (Days and Ang, 2004).…”

“…Career academies are schools within schools, which personalize instruction and provide leadership and vocational and academic training to youth at risk of dropping out of school. Bachmann, 1994;Biggs, 2010;Bulach, 2002;Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), 1999;Curran, 2007;Flowers, 1999;Hawkins, 1988;Pema and Mehay, 2009a;Pema and Mehay, 2009b;Seiverling, 1973;Roberts, 1991;WilliamBonds, 2013.…”

“…For graduation rates and personal characteristics, one of the studies (Pema and Mehay, 2009a) showed improvements for African American cadets only.…”

Mentoring, educational services, and incentives to learn: What do we know about them?

“…They are also more likely to transfer to a higher-level college and to complete a bachelor's degree. Using an randomized experiment design, Scrivener et al, 2008, analyze the effects of learning communities, which placed college freshmen in groups of up to 25 who took three classes 5 Using quasi-experimental methods, Pema and Mehay, 2009, study the impact of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC), a program that combines classroom instruction, with more broad extra-curriculum activities-such as physical education, military drill and customs, community service activities, and summer camp. The evidence of the program on high-school students' education and labour market outcomes is mixed.…”