The Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) is a program offered at George Washington High School that teaches students character education, student achievement, wellness, leadership, and diversity. All JROTC programs are a cooperative effort between the Army and the high schools to produce successful students and citizens, while fostering in each school a more constructive and disciplined learning environment. For every year in the program one elective credit is earned towards graduation. While JROTC does act as a substitute for Physical Education, it is much more enriching than just physical exercise.The JROTC curriculum includes course work on leadership, civics, geography and global awareness, health, and wellness, language arts, life skills, and U.S. history. The curriculum is based on the principles of performance-based, learner-centered education and promotes development of core abilities: capacity for life-long learning, communication, responsibility for actions and choices, good citizenship, respectful treatment of others, and critical thinking techniques. Teachers are trained to utilize a range of technologies and develop social/emotional skills, support academic content through gaming and simulations, and promote the role of social media. Thus, students engage in meaningful, purposeful activities that lead them to demonstrate success through a portfolio of accomplishments. Cadets are given various opportunities throughout the year to participate in unique events to practice their leadership skills within their school and community. By the time an active cadet within the program is graduating they will already have much more experience and life skills than their peers, giving them an edge whether they are going into the work force or applying for college.