WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HR 9403

JROTC POWER Act

119th Congress Introduced by Mark Alford and 1 co-sponsor

The act requires DoD to update JROTC guidance with a standardized evaluation plan and metrics to measure how the instructor pay scale affects recruitment and retention.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9403

Bill at a glance

  • Bill: HR 9403 (JROTC POWER Act)
  • Session: 119th Congress, 2nd Session
  • Sponsor: Rep. Veronica Escobar (with Rep. Mark Alford as co-sponsor)
  • Introduced: June 23, 2026
  • Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services

Purpose and intent

The JROTC POWER Act would require the Secretary of Defense to update guidance for the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) to evaluate how the JROTC instructor pay scale (specifically the JROTC Standardized Instructor Pay Scale, or JSIPS, or any successor system) affects recruitment and retention of JROTC instructors. The bill aims to establish standardized metrics and reporting to assess whether pay scales influence staffing outcomes and, by extension, program effectiveness.

Key provisions

  1. Update of guidance (Section 2(a))

    • Within 270 days after enactment, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with other relevant Secretaries, must update DoD guidance for JROTC to include:
      • An evaluation plan to assess effects of the JSIPS on recruitments and retention of JROTC instructors.
      • Standardized metrics for measuring instructor recruiting outcomes and retention across the military services.

  2. Required metrics (Section 2(b))

    • The evaluation plan must include, at minimum, metrics on:
      • Instructor vacancy rates and time-to-hire.
      • Retention rates and length of service.
      • Geographic variation in recruiting/retention (including high cost-of-living areas, rural, urban, and geographically isolated locations).
      • Comparisons between legacy pay systems and JSIPS outcomes.
      • Recruiting efforts used to attract applicants (including how applicants learned of positions).
      • Details on the hiring process: number of applicants who begin, complete, or withdraw, including interview and background investigations.
      • Offer outcomes: number of applicants who accept or decline offers, with reasons for declines where possible.
      • Additional matters the Secretary deems appropriate.

  3. Reporting to Congress (Section 2(c))

    • Not later than one year after the updated guidance is issued, and annually for two subsequent years, the Secretary must report to the relevant House and Senate Armed Services Committees, including:
      • Description of the updated guidance and its implementation status.
      • Baseline data and metrics collected under the new framework.
      • Assessment of the pay scale’s effects on recruitment and retention.
      • Recommendations for legislative or administrative action.

Who is affected

  • JROTC programs and instructors nationwide, through the Department of Defense and the Secretaries who oversee related military departments.
  • Policymakers and Members of Congress, who would receive annual reports on the impact of the JSIPS on recruitment and retention.

Procedural/timeline aspects

  • Effective baseline: Guidance update due within 270 days of enactment.
  • Data collection and metrics: Established as part of the updated guidance.
  • Reporting timeline:
    • Initial report to Congress within 1 year after guidance update.
    • Follow-up annual reports for two additional years.

Potential impact

  • Provides a formal mechanism to quantify how instructor pay affects JROTC staffing, which could influence pay policy considerations and budget priorities.
  • Establishes standardized data collection to compare JROTC outcomes across services and geographies.
  • Creates accountability through annual congressional reporting on recruitment, retention, and program effectiveness.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.