IHL JROTC Youth Action Competition
IHL JROTC Youth Action Competition
Educating the community about humanity in war.
Educating the community about humanity in war.
War has real consequences for people caught in the crossfire. International Humanitarian Law (IHL) places basic limits on how war is waged, helping protect those in harm’s way. The U.S. Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) and the American Red Cross work together to spread awareness nationwide about humanitarian protections and their pivotal role during armed conflict.
The IHL JROTC Youth Action Competition informs youth and young adults about the rules of armed conflict and empowers them to educate their community through peer-to-peer campaigns. The American Red Cross and JROTC are uniquely situated to partner in carrying out this important mission.
Clara Barton
The IHL JROTC Youth Action Competition is a free program that fulfills the JROTC service project requirement and will cultivate leadership, personal responsibility, critical thinking and citizenship for participating teams. This competition teaches cadets about the laws of war and gives them the tools to spread awareness in their community through rewarding, creative campaigns.
All JROTC Branches, including Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard, are eligible. Cadets form teams with classmates and take American Red Cross training on International Humanitarian Law—the law that governs armed conflict—and develop an outreach campaign in their communities to raise awareness about the rules of war.
Each year, the IHL Youth Action Campaign introduces a brand-new theme that explores a different, thought-provoking aspect of international humanitarian law.
This annual theme is woven into the training materials and activities, giving participants a fresh perspective on how the laws of war apply to real-world issues.
The IHL Youth Action Campaign is a free and exciting program just for teens and young adults. It’s all about learning the basics of the laws of war—things like how armed conflicts are governed and how people are protected during times of war. The campaign encourages young people to get creative and start real conversations about real-world issues through art, social media, school projects, or community events.
" The JROTC IHL YAC Competition inspired great passion for advocacy in my team. Our cadets gained valuable skills like project management, outreach skills, critical thinking skills, and so much more. This is a project I think every cadet should do!”
Megan Wachtel, JROTC Cadet, Competition Winner 2023, JROTC IHL Team Intern 2023-2025
Education
This competition is an excellent community engagement opportunity, allowing participants to develop knowledge about International Humanitarian Law through an expertly developed curriculum and help raise awareness of global issues.
Engagement
As participants, cadets will use their own voices to inform others about IHL and the key protections it offers humanity during armed conflict. From in-person interactions to social media efforts, their creativity and passion will build a campaign to spread awareness and appreciation for IHL.
Growth
Participants will cultivate essential skills, including: leadership, personal responsibility, critical thinking and public speaking. The knowledge gained through this experience will help them develop into future leaders in IHL.
Public Service
This competition is a unique way to fulfill the JROTC service learning or public service requirement.
The Annual IHL Youth Summit is the culminating event of the IHL Youth Action Campaign year. Each Spring, a select number of outstanding advocates and JROTC Cadets are invited to Washington, D.C. on a fully-funded trip that develops their personal skills, grows their network, and expands their knowledge of IHL.
Summit participants are selected from around the world by a panel of Red Cross professionals to represent their regions and divisions. This incredible opportunity reflects one of the highest honors within the IHL YAC program and is a significant achievement for attendees.
Form a Team and Register
JROTC cadets form teams of any size and select a coach, who is responsible for leading the team through the American Red Cross IHL training. Cadets then officially register their teams here or use the button below to do so. Teams usually form at the start of the academic year (August to October), but teams can register and participate at any time prior to the campaign deadline.
Get Trained
Once registered, teams will gain access to the self-paced competition training materials. These include four one-hour educational modules, including an annual thematic module, which educate cadets about IHL and the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. These materials include a full presenter’s guide and presentation slides for the coach.
Design an Outreach Campaign
Using the knowledge gained from the training, teams design an educational outreach campaign to help raise awareness about IHL. Cadets are encouraged to think big, using their creativity and ingenuity to reach others in impactful ways.
Execute Your Campaign!
Teams then carry out their campaign raising awareness in their communities about the rules of war. Although most cadet teams carry out their campaigns during the spring academic semester, cadets are free to conduct their campaign at any time before the competition ends.
Be Crowned Champions!
At the end of their campaign, teams submit a campaign summary, which tells the story of their achievements. Using these summary submissions, the American Red Cross IHL leadership selects an overall Champion for the competition!
The YAC program has been the most worthwhile program I've ever been part of. It has introduced me to so many amazing people and has sparked a passion for International Humanitarian Law that will never go away.
2024 IHL YAC Intern Camarie Irmen, JROTC Cadet
The IHL Youth Action Campaign is a free and exciting program just for teens and young adults. It’s all about learning the basics of the laws of war—things like how armed conflicts are governed and how people are protected during times of war. The campaign encourages young people to get creative and start real conversations about real-world issues through art, social media, school projects, or community events.
A typical campaign includes public activities planned by Cadets to spread awareness and encourage change through the use of presentations, discussions, and interactive events to share their message.
Past JROTC teams have conducted everything from lunch table events to art competitions, movie nights, local comic book competitions, and social media campaigns as part of the Competition. By learning from successful campaigns and adding their own creativity, participants can create meaningful projects that leave a lasting impact.
Each year, the IHL Youth Action Campaign introduces a brand-new theme that explores a different, thought-provoking aspect of international humanitarian law. This annual theme is woven into the training materials and activities, giving participants a fresh perspective on how the laws of war apply to real-world issues.
Curious about what this year's focus is? Click the button below to uncover the current theme and see how you can bring it to life through your own campaign!
Participants learned about the destructive potential of nuclear weapons and the threat they pose to humanity. From the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to devastating nuclear weapons tests and international efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, participants gained broad knowledge about this complex issue.
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From historic sites like the Great Pyramids or Mount Rushmore to precious artifacts, participants learned how IHL helps protect items and places of cultural significance across the globe.
Conflict can worsen the environment, and the environment can worsen conflict. Protecting the natural environment is important for many reasons including: limiting disruptions to national economies and people within them, preventing increases in extreme weather, preserving natural systems that provide food and water resources, and limiting an important factor that contributes to conflict.