Junior ROTC and cadet programmes teach leadership, discipline and citizenship through a military-style structure: ranks, uniforms, inspections, drill teams and colour guards. Cadets take pride in every promotion and every ribbon they earn, and instructors need a clear way to identify cadets, record their rank, and keep emergency contacts to hand at competitions and events. This JROTC Cadet ID Card is designed with the details cadets recognise: a photo shaped like a dog tag hanging from a ball chain, gold rank chevrons, and a small ribbon rack beside the cadet’s name.
Olive, Gold and a Dog Tag
The top of the card is an olive drab header with three gold chevrons stacked on the left, the insignia of a sergeant. RIVERTON HIGH JROTC is set in bold Saira Condensed beside them, with Cadet Corps · Leadership · Service in gold. The rest of the card is a pale khaki.
A beaded ball chain hangs down from the header in a V, holding a large rounded dog tag with a steel-grey rim. The cadet’s photo fills the tag. Below it, the cadet’s name and rank are set in olive-black: CDT. James Walker on the sample, with Cadet Sergeant · Alpha Company. A ribbon rack of six small striped ribbons in two rows sits to the right, like the ribbons worn on a service uniform. A table lists the cadet ID, rank, unit, platoon, and validity date. Our logo sits on a white plate, and an olive band with five small gold stars runs along the bottom.
The card is a vertical CR80 card measuring 2.125 by 3.375 inches.
Cadet Information on the Back
The back repeats the chevrons and olive header with CADET INFORMATION and the unit name. A Drill & Events table lists event, day and time: uniform inspection on Monday at 7:30 am, drill team practice on Wednesday at 3:15 pm and colour guard on Friday for game days. A QR code labelled SCAN: CADET PORTAL links to the programme’s schedule or records system. A contact table lists the parent’s phone, emergency number, issued uniform number and blood group. A note reminds cadets to wear the uniform on designated days, follow the chain of command, and represent the programme with pride, and signature lines for the cadet and senior instructor complete the card.
Common Cadet Rank Insignia
| Rank (Army JROTC example) | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Cadet Private First Class | One chevron |
| Cadet Corporal | Two chevrons |
| Cadet Sergeant | Three chevrons |
| Cadet Staff Sergeant | Three chevrons and one rocker |
| Cadet Second Lieutenant and above | Officer insignia (varies by service) |
Each service’s JROTC programme uses its own insignia; recolour or edit the chevrons on the card to match your cadet’s current rank.
Preparing a Cadet’s Card
- Dog tag photo: the tag hanging from the chain holds the portrait; select it and choose Replace Image. Use a photo in uniform with cover removed, following your programme’s photo standard.
- Programme name: retype RIVERTON HIGH JROTC and the motto line; Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force programmes, and civilian cadet corps, can change it to their own name.
- Rank and unit: update the name line, rank line, and table after each promotion.
- Chevrons: the chevrons are one group; add or remove a stripe to match the rank.
- Ribbons: the ribbon rack is one group; ungroup it to recolour ribbons to the awards the cadet has earned.
- Tables and QR code: update events and contacts with Edit Data, and link the QR code to your cadet portal in the Barcodes & QR panel.
Leadership and the Chain of Command
JROTC programmes are run largely by cadets themselves, with student officers and non-commissioned officers leading platoons and companies under the guidance of retired military instructors. Knowing who holds which position matters, especially at events with many cadets. A card that shows rank and unit clearly helps younger cadets identify their leaders and helps visiting instructors at competitions see who is in charge of each team.
Competitions, Parades and Community Service
Cadets travel to drill meets, marksmanship and academic competitions, parades and community service events. At each, organisers may need to check identities and emergency contacts. The back of this card holds the essentials, and the QR code can link to permission forms or the event schedule. Keep a spare copy of each card with the team’s first-aid kit when travelling.
Cadet Programmes and Youth Leadership Corps
High school JROTC units of every service, military academies and military high schools, civil air patrol and sea cadet units, national cadet corps and youth leadership programmes with a uniformed structure can all use this design. Change the colours from olive to navy, air force blue, or scarlet to match your service or corps.
Printing Olive and Gold
Olive, khaki and gold give the card a disciplined, uniform look and print well on PVC and matte cardstock. Check that the small ribbons remain distinct and that the ball chain beads are visible. A lanyard in your programme’s colours or a clip for the uniform pocket completes the look.
Uniform Days and Inspections
Most units set one day a week as uniform day, often with an inspection. Cadets are graded on the fit and cleanliness of their uniform, correct placement of insignia and ribbons, shined shoes, and grooming. The card’s ribbon rack is a small reminder of what an inspection looks for, and many cadets use it as a checklist when setting up their own uniform.
Cadet Questions
Can I show an officer rank instead of chevrons?
Yes. Delete the chevrons and draw or insert the officer insignia you need in the same place.
Can the dog tag hold a different photo shape?
The dog tag is a rounded rectangle slot, which suits standard portrait photos well.
Can instructors carry a matching card?
Duplicate it and change the name line to the instructor’s title, such as Senior Army Instructor.
Open the template, hang the cadet’s photo on the dog tag, pin on their chevrons and ribbons, and carry the corps’ pride on every card.
