North Salem High School Army JROTC

JROTC is a partnership between the Army and over 1650 high schools around the country, aimed at developing citizenship, leadership, and an ethic of service in our students. The curriculum stresses high school graduation, hands-on leadership training, good citizenship, community service, and study and life skills that will help students succeed during and after high school. Our program--one of only nine in Oregon--is open to students from all of Salem's high schools.

In the classroom, JROTC cadets practice writing and speaking, goal setting and planning, teamwork, and leadership. They learn about the meaning of our Constitution, American military history and the role of the armed forces in our democracy, first aid, drug abuse prevention, and physical fitness. We also offer co-curricular activities outside the classroom that appeal to our diverse students. Among them are Color Guard, Drill Team, Air Rifle marksmanship team, Physical Fitness team, a week long leadership camp in April, a formal dinner dance, numerous community service opportunities, and an awards ceremony at the end of the year.

North Salem's JROTC unit--the Viking Battalion--is a student run organization: the battalion commander, a senior cadet, and her staff of third- and fourth-year cadets plan, coordinate, and lead the wide variety of activities we are involved in. Two retired Army personnel administer the JROTC program for the school.