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yea im in Army JROTC in Louisiana

Look at it this way... the JROTC program for High Schools and even the ROTC program for Colleges are great to help you along your way in choosing a military career. Regardless of what branch the ROTC unit is (it would be great to be in the one that you look to go into) the one thing remains consistent is that you learn certain things that will help you whenever you enlist or seek a commission. The JROTC program prepares you initially if you enlist as it gives you a step up in the military by affording you the basic knowledge that others may not have (e.g. rank structure, customs & courtesies, etc., as well as a possible rank/rate increase initially) JROTC though will not help you get a commission though (if you are looking to become an officer) The primary way to do that is by going and completing a 4 year college. That is where a regular ROTC program comes in handy to help you through those 4 years. Because the gear the knowledge and training more for you as you are an adult at that time and not restricted by parental legality stuffs as much. You get more opportunities to advance and take advantage of offers the military has (i.e. taking OCS early and getting a head-start above those who dont) so that way once you graduate you don't have to wait to gain a commission and can start right away. If you are worried about what you may not be learning that could give you the edge up you seek for the branch you are considering, then speak to a recruiter for the branch and they can help you out with information. The internet is also a great place to search, or by even doing what you are doing and finding a guild on here that has people who were in and know and can answer your questions honestly. Either way I hope you all enjoy the experiences and knowledge that you can get from any program you can get into. It is all valuable and can not hurt you.

Again if your goal is to join the military (whether it be to make it a career or to try it out to see if you like it.. which not everyone is cut out for it), take what you can feasibly learn from it. Adapt and modify the information as you need to. Use the time to get an edge up before you join. I believe that if you complete 4 years (or 4 semesters, I cant remember which) you can get a contract promotion. Which means that instead of going in as a lowly Pvt (Private) and having to wait the standard 6 months TIG/TIS (Time in Grade/Time in Service) before being eligible for promotion, you go in as PFC (Private First Class) which means more pay and you are 6 months closer to hitting LCPL (Lance Corporal) as initially, for the non nco ranks (Pvt - Lcpl) it used to be a mandatory 6 months TIG/TIS before you were eligible for promotion (and those low promotions almost always happen as long as you keep your nose clean and do what you are suppose to do) Its only when you start going for the NCO ranks or above that it gets much harder.

You are correct. At a minimum you have to have completed Technically 2 semesters worth of JROTC which if done 1 semester (in a 2 semester/yr school district) would equate out to 2 years but could technically be done in 1 if you were allowed to double up (1 JROTC in each semester). But based on a 1 semester/yr program it would take the full 2 years.

Either way if you plan on going into the military, I honestly don't know why you wouldn't take a class that is cake and easy to pass (as long as you do what you are told to do) to have that benefit. And even if you missed out on high school JROTC, you can still get the same credit if you do 2 semesters of College ROTC. And even at that point you can still enlist (in say a reserve program) and get your foot in the door.. all the while, continuing your education at a college, take OCS if you want to become an officer (as having your foot in the door will give you an idea if you want to go that way or not) and then when you graduate you can accept a commission in the military as an officer or just stay enlisted. The great thing again is if you move from enlisted to officer, all of your accomplishments as enlisted in your SRB (Service Record Book), gets moved over to your OQR (Officer Qualifications Record) and counts... which means say if you scored an expert rifleman enlisted, and then as part of your OQR you score it again, it will be considered your 2nd award.. Stuff like that. Minor overall but makes you look better than the rookie that never did it and puts you to the forefront when it comes promotion time.

ya....my first year i was already a 1st LT...and got alot of ribbons and medals.....NOT to brag