The Military Science program at Annanadale is not affiliated with the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC). When the federal program was introduced under the National Defense Act of 1916, the then Superintendent, MAJ GEN Nicholson, remarked: "We were here first, and I expect we'll be here last, as well." While time has yet to prove the General a prophet with respect to JROTC, his spirit of independence has remained characteristic of the school. The achievements of Annandale's alumni, not only in the Armed Forces but also in every area of civilian leadership from the church to politics (including an Anglican bishop and a Vice President of the United States), testify to the wisdom of his decision. (Ironically, in the absence of an actual JROTC program, people at Annandale frequently refer to the Military Science Department as ROTC, in something of the same way as they use "Xerox"™ as a synonym for "photocopy."

 

It is important not to confuse the study of military science in the Department's courses with the military way of life at Annandale. There is not a "military program" at Annandale, in the sense of something that can logically be separated off or potentially dispensed with, as we might talk of canceling the "archery program." The military life is the basis for all that the young men and women of Annandale do, literally from their waking up in the morning until their going to bed at night. The Department's courses are meant, in part, to help the cadets live that life, and to fulfill their various roles in it: but military life begins the day the cadets "don the blue and grey," before they set foot in a Department classroom.

 

All cadets take a Military Science course each semester, though, as students matriculate in different classes, there is no requirement for a fixed number of years in the subject (Cadets in the VI and V classes take Military Science courses specifically designed for those age groups). There are two classroom sessions each week, and at least one hour a week of drill, maneuvers, or other military activities. Topics considered in class include military and civilian leadership; military history, tradition, and courtesy; strategy and tactics; and the organization of the Armed Forces of the United States. Courses in the Department are taught at the same challenging level as other Annandale offerings: one visiting officer remarked, "It's like Advanced Placement ROTC."