Chairman Wicker Commends Pentagon for Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program Expansion

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, (R-MS), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today commended Secretary Pete Hegseth and Pentagon leadership for directing the department to increase the number of Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs across the country, as stipulated in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The Chairman released the following statement:

"Expanding Junior ROTC programs across our nation's schools has been among my top priorities, and it is one that I was proud to authorize through the NDAA. These programs instill core values of citizenship, leadership, and service in our youth. They also provide structure, mentorship, and opportunity in our communities. I commend Secretary Hegseth and his team for moving forward with implementation and expansion. I look forward to seeing these programs grow and strengthen the next generation of Americans."

Background:

Secretary Hegseth recently delegated authority to the Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness to determine the number of JROTC units established by each military department. This delegation creates a clearer path to scale JROTC across the military services. The FY27 President's budget request reflects renewed funding for JROTC.