Cortez Masto, Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster JROTC Instructor Recruitment and Retention

Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced bipartisan legislation to support the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program. The JROTC Pay Oversight for Workforce Evaluation and Retention (POWER) Act would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish clear metrics to measure and improve recruitment and retention for JROTC instructors.

"JROTC instructors work tirelessly to help young Americans grow into leaders and understand the importance of a life of public service," said Senator Cortez Masto. "If the new JRTOC pay scale is causing instructors like those in Nevada to leave the program, Congress needs to know that. My commonsense legislation would ensure that we have all the information we need to recruit and retain the best possible JROTC instructors."

Nevada public schools have over 40 JROTC programs across the six military branches, and JROTC is one of DOD's most successful youth programs. Unfortunately, a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that DOD cannot currently evaluate the success of the new standardized JROTC instructor pay scale. During the GAO's review, instructors across the nation, including in Las Vegas, were interviewed and some raised concerns about the new pay scale, noting that they were worried it could make it harder to retain instructors. The JROTC POWER Act would address this gap and direct DOD to establish clear and consistent metrics to measure the recruitment and retention of JROTC instructors, including vacancy rates and time to hire. This legislation would improve transparency so Congress can determine if the new pay scale is supporting the program's continued success.

Senator Cortez Masto is a consistent champion for Nevada's service members and veterans. In the 2026 NDAA, she secured a key provision that will improve the transition to civilian life for service members. Cortez Masto recently cosponsored sweeping legislation to reform and improve health care for veterans. She has worked to support veterans exposed to toxins while serving at the Nevada Test and Training Range. Cortez Masto successfully pushed the Biden administration to approve a new veterans cemetery in Elko, Nevada, and has been continually pushing the VA for transparency in the timeline of its construction. She has fought back against the Navy Federal Credit Union for overcharging service members.

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