About Us

OUR HISTORY:  "The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program was the brainchild of Army inspector, LT Edgar R. Stevens, who in 1911 begin teaching high school students the values and disciplines of a military life in the hopes of molding these students into better citizens. From this idea came the formation of the JROTC program with the signing of the National Defense Act of 1916 and the establishment of the first JROTC at Leavenworth High School in Kansas in 1917." (Introduction to the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps)

The Navy JROTC (NJROTC) program was established by Public Law in 1964 (Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 102), and the first NJROTC programs began in 1966.  The program is conducted at accredited secondary schools throughout the nation, and taught by instructors who are retired Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers and enlisted personnel.  The U.S. Navy and Hernando County established the NJROTC program (ROAR Regiment) at Central High School  in 2000.

Focused on the development of today's youth into tomorrow's leaders, Central High School's NJROTC Program is currently the #4 program in the nation! Located far from any military presence in small, semi-rural Brooksville Florida, Central's NJROTC program achieved unparalleled success by becoming the largest, most popular, and the overall best program in Area Seven. What is even more significant is the fact that Central's NJROTC Program didn't stop there. They have continued to lead and show improvement in all areas. In the words of Commander Dirk Hebert, Area Seven Manager, "Central High School has created the prototype of a program designed to instill the values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment . . . They lead their high school - academically, athletically, socially . . . " For seven of the past eight years Central's Program has been ranked as one of the top five programs in the nation. In 2005, 2008, 2009, and 2011 Central's NJROTC unit was recognized as the #2 program in the nation, and in 2006 and 2010 Central's unit was recognized as the #1 program in the nation. In 2012, Central’s unit ranked #4 in the nation. This is a feat that no other program has ever accomplished. This year the cadets have risen to a new level and clearly demonstrated they are in a class by themselves, and hope to once again receive national recognition.