Coast Guard Establishes First CA JROTC Program

ALAMEDA, CA — Despite its major presence in Alameda, The US Coast Guard selected a different California city for its first Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps — JROTC — program in the state.

Rear Adm. Andrew M. Sugimoto, Eleventh District Commander, announced the program’s official West Coast launch at Mission Bay High School in San Diego, Friday morning.

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," said Sugimoto. "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.

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.