School‐Based Leadership Talent Development: An Examination of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Participation and Postsecondary Plans

Abstract

In 1972, the Marland Report included leadership as a domain of giftedness in the first federal definition. Although federal and state descriptions of gifted and talented services still include identifying and developing leadership talent, in many states, services are not mandated or funded. Consequently, leadership development is often left to extracurricular programs (e.g., student organizations, athletics). The Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) provides school-based military-focused leadership education and opportunities to apply emergent leadership skills. This qualitative study examined leadership talent development in JROTC and the postsecondary paths participants chose. A self-report survey was distributed to graduating seniors enrolled in JROTC in Texas public high schools. The findings highlighted characteristics of students who chose to pursue military-focused education or careers after high school and themes about their leadership development experiences in JROTC. Students benefitted from opportunities for career-related identity exploration, a culture that supported leadership development, and psychosocial skills coaching.

Keywords

leadership talent development qualitative research

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps . (2015). https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104476/air-force-junior-reserve-officer-training-corps/.

Army Junior ROTC Program Overview . (2020). http://www.usarmyjrotc.com/general/program_overview.php.

Arnett

J. J.

(2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55(5), 469–480. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.5.469.

ASVAB test explained (2020). https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/asvab/asvab-test-explained.html.

Ayers

(2006). Hearts and minds: Military recruitment and the high school battlefield. Phi Delta Kappan, 87(8), 594–599. https://doi.org/10.1177/003172170608700813.

Biggs

C. L.

(2010). Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps: A comparison of achievement, high school graduation, college enrollment, and military enlistment rates of high school students in Missouri [Doctoral dissertation]. Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (3407350).

Braun

Clarke

(2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.

Center for Doctrine Development and Education . (2015, August). Volume 2: Leadership. https://www.doctrine.af.mil/Portals/61/documents/Volume_2/Volume-2-Leadership.pdf

Chief of Naval Education and Training . (2000, August). Leadership and management. https://www.public.navy.mil/netc/nrotc/cig/lmrevision8-00.pdf

10.

Corbin Dwyer

Buckle

J. L.

(2009). The space between: On being an insider‐outsider in qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 8(1), 54–63. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940690900800105.

11.

Crocetti

Rubini

Meeus

(2008). Capturing the dynamics of identity formation in various ethnic groups: Development and validation of a three‐factor model. Journal of Adolescence, 31(2), 207–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2007.09.002.

12.

Dai

D. Y.

(2017). Envisioning a new foundation for gifted education: Evolving Complexity Theory (ECT) of talent development. Gifted Child Quarterly, 61(3), 172–182. https://doi.org/ 10.1177/0016986217701837.

13.

Days

J. H.

Ang

Y. L.

(2004). An empirical examination of the impact of JROTC participation on enlistment, retention, and attrition (Unpublished master’s thesis). Naval Postgraduate School.

14.

Defense Manpower Data Center . (2012). P&P-ASVAB forms 23–27. (Technical Bulletin No. 4). Defense Manpower Data Center.

15.

Department of the Army . (2015, June). Field Manual 6–22: Leader development . https://www.milsci.ucsb.edu/sites/secure.lsit.ucsb.edu.mili.d7/files/sitefiles/fm6_22.pdf

16.

Department of the Navy . (1996, October). MCDP 6: Command and control. https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCDP%206%20Command%20and%20Control.pdf?ver=2012-10-11-163551-603

17.

Department of the Navy . (2016, May). MCTP 6-10B Marine Corps values: A user’s guide for discussion leaders. https://www.marines.mil/News/Publications/MCPEL/Electronic-Library-Display/Article/900625/mctp-6-10b-formerly-mcrp-6-11b/

18.

Funk

R. C.

(2002). Developing leaders through high school junior ROTC: Integrating theory with practice. Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, 8(4), 43–53. https://doi.org/ 10.1177/107179190200800404.

19.

Goldman

C. A.

Schweig

Buenaventura

Wright

(2017). Geographic and demographic representativeness of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. RAND Corporation. https://rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1712.html.

20.

Hamilton

McCoach

D. B.

Tutwiler

M. S.

Siegle

Gubbins

E. J.

Callahan

C. M.

Broderson

A. V.

Mun

R. U.

(2018). Disentangling the roles of institutional and individual poverty in the identification of gifted students. Gifted Child Quarterly, 62(1), 6–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/0016986217738053.

21.

Immediate college enrollment rate . (2020). https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_cpa.asp.

22.

Johnsen

Qui

Frederick

(2010). What the research says about leadership development of gifted students. TEMPO, 30(1), 9–18. https://www.txgifted.org/files/Tempo/2000/2000-01.pdf.

23.

Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps . 10 U.S.C. 102 § 2031–2033.

24.

Kamarck

K. N.

Arriaga

X. L.

(2020, January). Defense primer: Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC). Congressional Research Service.

25.

Karnes

F. A.

Chauvin

J. C.

(2000). Leadership skills inventory. Great Potential Press.

26.

Klasik

Strayhorn

T. L.

(2018). The complexity of college readiness: Differences by race and college selectivity. Educational Researcher, 47(6), 334–351. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X18778598.

27.

Koro-Ljungberg

Yendol-Hoppey

Smith

J. J.

Hayes

S. B.

(2009). (E)pistemological awareness, instantiation of methods, and uninformed methodological ambiguity in qualitative research projects. Educational Researcher, 38(9), 687–699. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X09351980.

28.

Lee

S. -Y.

(2015). Civic education as a means of talent dissemination for gifted students. Asian Pacific Education Review, 16, 307–316. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-015-9372-y.

29.

Lee

S. -Y.

Matthews

Boo

Kim

Y. -K.

(2020). Gifted students’ perceptions about leadership and leadership development. High Ability Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13598139.2020.1818554.

30.

Luyckx

Goossens

Soenens

Beyers

(2006). Unpacking commitment and exploration: Preliminary validation of an integrative model of late adolescent identity formation. Journal of Adolescence, 29, 361–378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2005.03.008.

31.

Marcia

J. E.

(1980). Identity in adolescence. In Adelson

(Ed), Handbook of adolescent psychology (pp. 159–187). John Wiley.

32.

Marine Corps Junior ROTC . n.d.. Unit home https://www.mcjrotc.marines.mil/About/.

33.

Markus

Nurius

(1986). Possible selves. American Psychologist, 41(9), 954–969. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.41.9.954.

34.

Marland

S. P.

(1972). Education of the gifted and talented volume 1: Report to the Congress of the United States by the US Commissioner of Education (pp. 1–126). U.S. Government Printing Office.

35.

Matthews

M. S.

(2004). Leadership education for gifted and talented youth: A review of the literature. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 28(1), 77–113. https://doi.org/10.1177/016235320402800105.

36.

Matthews

M. S.

(2015). Creativity and leadership’s role in gifted identification and programming in the USA: A pilot study. Asia Pacific Education Review, 16, 247–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-015-9373-x.

37.

Meyer

M. S.

(2021). Military-focused leadership talent development: An examination of JROTC participation and postsecondary plans [Doctoral dissertation. University of North Texas]UNT Digital Library. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1808400/?q=Melanie%20S.%20Meyer.

38.

Meyer

M. S.

Cranmore

Rinn

A. N.

Hodges

(2021). College choice: Considerations for academically advanced high school seniors. Gifted Child Quarterly, 65(1), 52–74. https://doi.org/10.1177/0016986220957258.

39.

Meyer

M. S.

Rinn

A. N.

(2021). Developing leadership talent in adolescents and emerging adults: A systematic review. Gifted Child Quarterly, 65(3), 287–313. https://doi.org/10.1177/00169862211007556.

40.

Miles

M. B.

Huberman

A. M.

Saldana

(2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). Sage.

41.

National Association for Gifted Children (2019). Pre-k to grade 12 gifted programming standards. https://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/national-standards-gifted-and-talented-education/pre-k-grade-12

42.

National Defense Act of 1916 , Pub. L. No. 64–85 § 39 Stat. 166 (1916).

43.

National School Lunch Program . (n.d.). https://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp.

44.

NJROTC Program . (2019). https://www.public.navy.mil/netc/nstc/njrotc/program.aspx.

45.

Nowell

L. S.

Norris

J. M.

White

D. E.

Moules

N. J.

(2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847.

46.

Pema

Mehay

(2009). The effect of high school JROTC on student achievement, educational attainment, and enlistment. Southern Economic Journal, 76(2), 533–552. https://doi.org/10.4284/sej.2009.76.2.533.

47.

Pema

Mehay

(2010). The impact of the high school Junior ROTC program: Does treatment timing and intensity matter? Defense and Peace Economics, 21(3), 229–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/10242690903105554.

48.

Pema

Mehay

(2012). Career effects of occupation‐related vocational education: Evidence from the military’s internal labor market. Economics of Education Review, 31, 680–693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2012.04.005.

49.

Peterson

J. S.

(2019). Presenting a qualitative study: A reviewer’s perspective. Gifted Child Quarterly, 63(3), 147–158. https://doi.org10.1177/0016986219844789.

50.

Pfeiffer

S. I.

Wechsler

S. M.

(2013). Youth leadership: A proposal for identifying and developing creativity and giftedness. Estudos de Psicologica, 30(2), 219–229. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-166X2013000200008.

51.

Public Education Information Management System . (n.d.). https://tea.texas.gov/reports-and-data/data-submission/peims.

52.

Renzulli

J. S.

(1978). What makes giftedness? Reexamining a definition. Phi Delta Kappan, 60(3), 180–184. https://doi.org/10.1177/003172171109200821.

53.

Renzulli

J. S.

(2012). Reexamining the role of gifted education and talent development for the 21^st century: A four‐part theoretical approach. Gifted Child Quarterly, 56(3), 150–159. https://doi.org/10.1177/0016986212444901.

54.

Renzulli

J. S.

Smith

F. H.

White

A. J.

Callahan

C. M.

Hartman

R. K.

Westberg

K. L.

(2002). Scales for rating the behavioral characteristics of superior students - revised (SRBCSS-R). Creative Learning Press.

55.

Rinn

A. N.

(2020). Social, emotional, and psychosocial development of gifted and talented individuals. Prufrock Academic Press.

56.

Rinn

A. N.

Mun

R. U.

Hodges

(2020). 2018‐2019 State of the states in gifted education. National Association of Gifted Children and the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted.

57.

Roach

A. A.

Wyman

L. T.

Brookes

Chavez

Heath

S. B.

Valdes

(1999). Leadership giftedness: Models revisited. Gifted Child Quarterly, 43(1), 13–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/001698629904300103.

58.

Roets

(1986). Roets rating scale for leadership. Leadership Publishers.

59.

Ryan

G. W.

Bernard

H. R.

(2003). Techniques to identify themes. Field Methods, 15, 85–109. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X02239569.

60.

Saldana

(2016). The coding manual for qualitative researchers (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.

61.

Sandelowski

(2000). Whatever happened to qualitative description? Research in Nursing & HealthCO, 23(4), 3342–4340. https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-240X(200008)23:4<334::AID-NUR9>3.0.-G

62.

Sandelowski

(2010). What’s in a name? Qualitative description revisited. Research in Nursing & Health, 33, 77–84. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.20362.

63.

Savell

McMahon

(2020). Numbers and per capita distribution of troops serving in the U. S. post-9/11 wars in 2019, by state. Watson Institute of International and Public Affairs. https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/papers.

64.

Schafer

(2017). Generations of war: The rise of the warrior caste and the all-volunteer force. https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/generations-of-war.

65.

Spoehr

Handy

(2018). The looming national security crisis: Young Americans unable to serve in the military (No. 3282). The Heritage Foundation. https://www.heritage.org/sites/default/files/2018-02/BG3282.pdf.

66.

Subotnik

R. F.

Olszewski-Kubilius

Worrell

F. C.

(2011). Rethinking giftedness and gifted education: A proposed direction forward based on psychological science. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 12(1), 3–54. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100611418056.

67.

Subotnik

R. F.

Olszewski-Kubilius

Worrell

F. C.

(2018). The talent development framework: Overview of components and implications for policy and practice. In Olszewski-Kubilius

Subotnik

R. F.

Worrell

F. C.

(Eds), Talent development as a framework for gifted education: Implications for best practices and applications in schools (pp. 7–23). Prufrock Academic Press.

68.

Texas Education Agency (2019). Texas state plan for the education of gifted/talented students. https://tea.texas.gov/Academics/Special_Student_Populations/Gifted_and_Talented_Education/Gifted_Talented_Education.

69.

Texas Education Code (1995). Tx. Stat. § 29.121 https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.29.htm#29.121.

70.

Thomas

D. R.

(2006). A general inductive approach for analyzing qualitative evaluation data. American Journal of Evaluation, 27, 237–246. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098214005283748.

71.

UIL Alignments . (2020). https://www.uiltexas.org/files/alignments/Alpha_20_22_1_31.pdf.

72.

Willis

D. G.

Sullivan-Bolyai

Knafl

Cohen

M. Z.

(2016). Distinguishing features and similarities between descriptive phenomenological and qualitative description research. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 38(9), 1185–1204. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945916645499.

73.

Zimmerman

B. J.

Schunk

D. H.

(2003). Educational psychology: A century of contributions. Lawrence Erlbaum Press.