Supervisor Alan Wong Introduces Resolution Supporting Continued Availability of JROTC Programs in SFUSD
SAN FRANCISCO March 3, 2026– Today, Supervisor Alan Wong introduced a resolution recognizing the importance of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program and encouraging the San Francisco Unified School District to continue providing high school students the opportunity to participate and to ensure the program remains fully operational.
JROTC has been part of the San Francisco Unified School District for more than 90 years and is currently offered at six high schools including Balboa, Galileo, Lincoln, Lowell, Mission, and Washington. The program serves more than 900 enrolled cadets and provides additional Physical Education Independent Study options to over 600 students.
The curriculum includes leadership development, communication skills, first aid, conflict management, physical training, government structure, finance and business education, and community service. SFUSD JROTC cadets collectively complete tens of thousands of community service hours each year and have earned national recognition in multiple disciplines.
“This resolution is about recognizing a program that continues to make a positive impact in our schools,” said Supervisor Alan Wong. “JROTC offers leadership development, character building, and a strong sense of belonging for hundreds of students across our city. Many students describe it as a second family, and it provides meaningful opportunities for growth both inside and outside the classroom.”
“JROTC has changed my life. It has given me confidence in my abilities and helped put me on a path toward success,” said Abigail Park, a student from Lowell High School. “It has taught me the importance of teamwork and trusting the people around me. This program feels like a second family, and it is something I look forward to every day.”
“As a parent, I have seen firsthand how much JROTC means to our students,” said Dennis Chin, a parent from Lowell High School. “The program builds discipline, leadership, and camaraderie, and the young people I have met through it are thoughtful and responsible. It would be heartbreaking to see something so meaningful no longer available to students.”
“Over the years, I have watched students grow in ways they never expected,” said Neil Cutshaw, an instructor at Lowell High School. “Some come in quiet and unsure of themselves, and by the next year they are leading, teaching, and speaking with confidence. JROTC gives students a place to belong and the opportunity to discover strengths they did not know they had.”
In 2008, San Francisco voters approved Proposition V, declaring it City policy that JROTC continue to be available in SFUSD high schools. Enrollment has grown significantly in recent years, increasing from approximately 350 students in the 2022 to 2023 school year to more than 900 students today.
Supervisor Alan Wong introduced the resolution to formally recognize the program’s longstanding presence in San Francisco schools and to express support for students and families who choose to participate.
