JROTC Inside Edition

I am extremely pleased with the level of cadet engagement in enriching experiences that support leadership development, specific skill advancement, and meaningful community service. These activities continue to elevate the quality of our programs and strengthen our students’ postsecondary readiness.

As we move forward, I am relying on all instructors to support counselors by ensuring that all student information is accurately documented in SchooLinks. This data is critical for monitoring progress, capturing achievements, and aligning cadets to appropriate pathways.

Several schools have administered the ASVAB, which provides valuable dual-purpose insights. When interpreting ASVAB scores and developing targeted plans of action, please collaborate with the appropriate content-area experts to ensure students receive accurate guidance and support in strengthening identified areas.

Lastly, it is essential that parents and students understand their options regarding the sharing or non-sharing of ASVAB scores. Our goal is to ensure every student makes informed decisions about their future.

Thank you for your commitment to maintaining high-quality instruction, data integrity, and student-centered support.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dr. Sims

Thank you everyone for your hard work this past semester. We are now moving into finals and I am asking that each of you check the grades of your cadets it is critical that they pass the class so that they can work towards their ECCC certification.

I also want to remind everyone that the Monday after Christmas break we will be hosting a professional development and citywide drill competition at Carver Military Academy on Monday, January 5. Please make sure you are there and check the posted schedule due to the change of plans for the competition.

Thank you for your continued work with the cadets and as always if you need anything, please let us know.

Respectfully Submitted,

LTC Zimmerle

It’s hard to believe we are already approaching the end of the first semester of SY 2025–2026. Throughout these past months, we have competed in numerous citywide and nationwide events. We have completed multiple service learning projects across the city. We have conducted countless observations, SAVs, and JPAs. We have participated in student conferences, parent conferences, staff meetings, and community meetings. All of this has been in service of one goal: pushing our cadets across the Semester 1 finish line.

Finals are quickly approaching. One strategy that I used in the classroom was to administer the Army Essay Contest as a final. This ensured that my program met the annual requirement and it encouraged all of my cadets to explore the world through creative writing. Let's band together to ensure that we meet our benchmark and that we challenge our cadets with meaningful summative assessments. Thank you for all that you do!

Respectfully Submitted,

MAJ Striverson

Congratulations to the Roosevelt JROTC program for achieving remarkable growth from JPA 2022 to JPA 2025! Amongst other accomplishments, Roosevelt received a perfect score for their Service Learning Brief!

Congratulations to all of our Illinois Tuition Waiver Scholarship recipients! A total of 38 students received 52 scholarships to prestigious Illinois universities such as UIC, Eastern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University- Carbondale, Illinois University- Edwardsville

U of I- Champaign and Chicago State University!

This was a busy week for the Morgan Park Mustangs! On Tuesday, MP co-hosted a Military Career Fair with the school's College & Career Coach. MP also had the Deputy Director and Instruction Specialist in house for a Staff Assistance Visit. On Wednesday, MP co-hosted an ASVAB test with the College and Career Coach. On Saturday, MP held a Battalion Stand-down focused on Conduct, Standards & Expectations “Ted-Talk” led by the Cadet Leadership.

The District celebrates record growth by highlighting stronger outcomes for Black and Latinx students, career pathways, and providing cost-effective educational outcomes for CPS families!

Please share this mazing newsletter with your cadet S-5s!

Team Lodging: The team lodging booking link is currently active. The event partner has blocked rooms for our teams. The link is: Hotel Reservation Link

Volunteer Instructor Travel: Once G8 creates the LOA, volunteer instructors can book travel but skip lodging as JROTC HQs has blocked rooms at the Holiday Inn just south of the venue. Once the hosts all the names, the host will coordinate directly with them on execution timeline.

Additional information can be found at: https://www.robotevents.com/robot-competitions/vex-robotics-competition/RE-V5RC-25-0198.html#general-info

The 3rd BDE Drone Competition is approved and open for registration in REC Foundation. So far, the following schools registered: Camdenton (4), Hillcrest (3), Nixa (3), SRTC (4), and KC East (2).

The deadline for BDE teams to register is 22 JAN 26. Since it is an invitational event, coaches need to email the team registration numbers they want to enter the competition. Here is the link to the event: https://recfevents.org/#/admin/events/31

Mission: Marine Leadership Academy (MLA) will host an “Aerial Drone Competition” on Saturday, 13 December 2025 from 0800 to 1400 at The Marine Leadership Academy, 1920 N Hamlin Ave Chicago IL 60647. In order to promote the STEM skills like piloting, coding, and engineering among the other JROTC programs.

Registration fee: $75.00 per school.

Three categories: Speed course, obstacle course, coding course.

Concession stand: Bring cash- Pizza, chips, soda, water, etc...

Registration link: https://forms.gle/XxSr6CXMQh9gfiaT9

• Please remind your JROTC programs to compete in the JROTC Leadership & Academic Bowl (JLAB) Level I by today, 20 NOV 25, at 11:59 pm EST. Extensions will not be granted. The Level I results will be released via email NLT Friday, 5 DEC 25.
• The JROTC Logistics and Supply Management Course is cancelled next week. Request you move the attendees to one of the future Log courses.
• The next BDE Chief Teams meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 17 DEC 25 at 1:30pm EST.
• We are reserving JLAB Level III Championship Hotel reservations at a new DC hotel location. More to follow on the group rate link which will be included in the upcoming JLAB OPORD with a NLT Monday, 20 APR 26 suspense to reserve rooms for BDE JROTC staff and selected JLAB facilitators.
• The JROTC Program Advisory Committee (PAC) new meeting dates are 6-8 JAN 26 at Fort Knox with 5 JAN 26 and 9 JAN 26 as the travel days. We will reserve hotel rooms and BDE Chiefs may pick alternate room locations. We will discuss and do group work on transitioning the Strategic Plan into an Action Plan and conduct a review of the Draft CCR 145-2 revision. Expect both Strategic Plan and the latest CCR 145-2 revision to be emailed to you all for review and an assigned group roster NLT 12 DEC 25.
• The next JROTC national event is the 2026 JROTC Robotics Championship during 24-27 JAN 26 at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, OH. A FRAGO was published on Tuesday, 18 NOV 25.
• The new dates for the JROTC National Raider Challenge Competition are 16-19 APR 26 at Fort Knox, KY.
• The JROTC National Drone Championship has been moved from March 2025 to May 2026 in the Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, GA. More to follow on details in an OPORD.
• The BDE Chief and DAI Workshop is tentatively planned for 24-26 FEB 26 at Fort Knox with 23 FEB 26 and 27 FEB 26 as the travel days.

Suspense - Army Programs: 25Feb2026

This essay will be used for the Army programs to meet the Cadet Command Army Essay annual requirement. Submit your "best" essay to SFC Cunningham NLT than the suspense date.

Supporting documents can be found in the Control Panel, Army Essay Folder.

Link to JROTC Control Panel

Dr. Tyese Sims - Executive Director
LTC Steven Zimmerle - Director of Military Instruction

MAJ Michael Striverson - Deputy Director of Military Instruction

MAJ Lancelot Lashley - Logistics Manager

CSM Ricardo Medina - Instructional Specialist

SFC Loretta Cunningham - Instructional Specialist

MSG Cleris Heggs - Hiring Manager

Kurt Jackson - Operations Manager

Shaward Singleton - Sr. Inventory Management Clerk

Marcus Thomas - Inventory Management Clerk

Website: https://www.chicagojrotc.com/
Location: 145 S. Campbell Chicago, IL 60612
Instagram: CPSJROTC

Twitter: @CPSJROTC