MOAA ROTC/Junior ROTC Award Program
General Information
The presentation of a MOAA ROTC/JROTC award is an excellent way for chapters to gain exposure in the community and, at the same time, foster a positive military recognition among the youth of the community. Accordingly, it has always been the desire of MOAA national that the medals are awarded by the local chapter and not the national organization.
All of the military services that sponsor senior or junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs (i.e., the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps) have officially approved the MOAA ROTC medal.
It is still the desire and intent of the national association to preserve, insofar as possible, the original concept of the MOAA ROTC medal as an award of a local chapter, not the national organization.
The program is entirely voluntary; no MOAA chapter is under any obligation to award MOAA ROTC medals to ROTC and/or JROTC units in its locality.
In the event that (1) there is not a MOAA chapter in the vicinity of an ROTC or JROTC unit or (2) the nearest chapter to an ROTC or JROTC unit is for any reason unwilling to sponsor the award, national headquarters will upon request provide a MOAA ROTC medal directly to the unit commander for presentation.
Guidelines for the ROTC medal:
1. AWARD - Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) ROTC medal.
2. DESCRIPTION - The award consists of a red, white and blue ribbon 1 and 3/8 inches in width with a bronze disc pendant 1 and 5/8 inches in diameter and a matching service ribbon (these items are in a presentation case), a certificate of presentation and certificate folder.
3. PURPOSE - The purpose of the MOAA ROTC medal is to recognize an outstanding ROTC cadet or midshipman or JROTC cadet in his next-to-last year in the program, who shows exceptional potential for military leadership (exceptional academic achievement in the case of the Marine Corps JROTC Program). The medal may not be used for any other purpose.
4. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA - The cadet or midshipman must:
- a. Be in the next-to-last year of the ROTC or JROTC program (customarily in his junior year of college or high school).
- b. Be in good academic standing.
- c. Be of high moral character.
- d. Evince a high order of loyalty to his unit, school and country.
- e. Show exceptional potential for military leadership.
5. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE MARINE CORPS JROTC PROGRAM - Somewhat different eligibility criteria apply to the Marine Corps JROTC Program. In that program the cadet must:
- a. Be in the upper 10 percent of his high school class.
- b. Have an "A" average in MCJROTC academic subjects.
- c. Be holding a cadet officer billet.
- d. Be nominated in his junior year.
6. NUMBER OF AWARDS - No more than one award may be made each year in any one ROTC or JROTC unit. Also, while the awards packages are provided free of charge, chapters should ONLY request the number of medals actually needed for the current school year. Chapters are asked NOT to STOCKPILE the medals!
7. SPONSORSHIP - Normally, the award is sponsored by an individual MOAA chapter in the same geographic area as the ROTC or JROTC unit. However, if there is no MOAA chapter in the vicinity of an ROTC or JROTC unit or if the nearest chapter to an ROTC or JROTC unit is for any reason unwilling to sponsor the award, the national association will upon request sponsor the award itself.
8. REQUEST BY UNIT COMMANDERS - A unit commander may request the award from the nearest local chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. A chapter locator is available online.
9. PROCUREMENT OF MEDALS - A MOAA chapter sponsoring one or more units may obtain as many award packages as needed (packages include the medal, certificate of presentation and certificate folder) from national headquarters. Chapters should ONLY request the number of medals actually needed for the current school year. Chapters are asked NOT to STOCKPILE the medals! If the national association is itself sponsoring an award, a medal (together with a service ribbon and a certificate of presentation) is provided directly to the unit commander without charge.
10. SELECTION - The recipient is selected by the unit commander. However, when an award is being sponsored by a local chapter, final approval rests with the chapter.
11. PRESENTATION - The presentation is normally made by a representative of the sponsoring chapter. If the award is not sponsored by a local chapter, the unit commander may designate a person, preferably a member of Military Officers Association of America, to make the presentation.
12. DIRECT LIAISON - Whenever a local chapter is sponsoring an award, direct liaison with the unit commander on all points is authorized and encouraged.
13. TO REQUEST MEDALS - To request MOAA ROTC/JROTC award packages, please email the MOAA national ROTC/JROTC awards coordinator, awards@moaa.org.
We ask that you please plan ahead and submit your request at least 2-3 weeks prior to the date you need them. Please provide the following information in your email request:
- Your name
- Chapter name
- Number of ROTC/JROTC packages desired (please distinguish between the two as JROTC and ROTC certificates are different)
- Mailing address you would like the order sent to (shipping to a PO Box is not available, please provide a street address)