The United States formed its first "reserve" forces under the Militia Act of 1792. Not until 1903, when the National Guard was formed, did the country become serious about military readiness. Five years later, a Medical Corps reserve, as opposed to the "state-owned" National Guard, was formed and the Army Reserve followed in 1912. The Navy Appropriations Act of 1916 allowed the Marine Corps to exceed its regular and wartime manpower ceilings. By the close of World War I in November 1918, over 6,000 officers and men of the Corps were classed as "Reserves." Under this category, the first women Marines were recruited in August 1918. By the end of the war, there were 305 Marine Reserves (female) serving as clerks, chiefly in HQ Marine Corps. Under the 1925 legislation, the USMC's reserve personnel were reorganized.

The National Defense Act of 1916 provided for reserve forces in the US - It also created a training program known as the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). This was a civilian college-based program. It was a supplement to formal education at the two US service academies, West Point (USMA) and Annapolis (USNA). Following World War II, Congress changed the ROTC program to include a Junior Division (Class HS) for high schools.

Purpose of MCJROTC

The purpose of this program, commonly referred to as "Junior ROTC," is to teach leadership. It does not seek any particular commitment to the military. The current legal basis for JROTC is Section 2031 of Title 10, United States Code. The section is implemented by the Department of Defense. The governing directive, 1205.13 "ROTC- Program for Secondary Educational Institutions," is dated 26 December 1995. The Department of Defense (DoD) funds and sponsors JROTC through the Secretaries of the Military Departments. MCJROTC is funded and sponsored through the Office of the Secretary of the Navy. Legally, the JROTC program offered in a high school must be no less than three-years and no less than 96 hours of instruction each year. Usually, each year contains 180 hours of leadership instruction and application. The program may extend over four years. This program meets these requirements. Similar programs are conducted nationwide by the other three military services.