By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–The U.S. Coast Guard has announced the establishment of its first California-based Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program.
Rear Adm. Andrew Sugimoto, Eleventh District Commander, announced the program’s official West Coast launch at Mission Bay High School in San Diego on Oct. 27.
The Coast Guard JROTC program aims to inspire and develop young leaders by instilling the values of teamwork, discipline, and service to the community. This initiative will provide high school students with a unique opportunity to explore careers in the Coast Guard and gain valuable leadership skills that will benefit them in their future endeavors.
“The Coast Guard JROTC program will empower our youth to become future leaders with a great foundation,” Sugimoto said. “The goal is to foster a sense of duty, integrity, and respect, we aim to cultivate a new generation of individuals committed to serving their communities and our nation.”
Sugimoto was joined by school officials, educators, and community leaders who recognize the significance of this milestone in the Coast Guard’s history.
During the event, Rear Adm. Sugimoto outlined the program’s objectives, curriculum, and the benefits it offers to participating students. Students will have the opportunity to learn more about the Coast Guard’s mission, its role in safeguarding our nation’s maritime interests, and the numerous career paths available within the organization.
The Coast Guard established its first JROTC unit in 1992, in Miami. Under recent federal legislation, the Coast Guard is expanding the JROTC program to every Coast Guard District by 2025. The Mission Bay High School JROTC program, activated in August of 2023, marks the first West Coast program.
