National Society of Blackjacks


The National Society of Blackjacks is a High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps leadership program based on the example of General of the Armies John J. Pershing. The Blackjacks are the high school auxiliary of the National Society of Pershing Rifles.

Mission

Blackjacks has a twofold mission:
Establish drill units throughout the United States an elite brotherhood of cadets, trained and motivated to protect the ideals of General of the Armies John Joseph Pershing, patron of this organization. As in The National Society of Pershing Rifles, Blackjacks is a nationally affiliated organization dedicated to fostering a brotherhood and maintain a group of highly motivated and proficient individuals.
Prepare a student for college level Reserve Officer Training Corps and entry into the National Society of Pershing Rifles. Blackjacks is a preparatory program for recruits into Pershing Rifles units across the nation, these units contain members of the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy ROTC programs and teaches the member the fundamentals of military procedures and conduct. When and if activated in the Pershing Rifles, the cadet receives more training in how to be a better officer, soldier and citizen. Pershing Rifles cadets tend to excel in ROTC and set the standards for others to follow.

Symbols

The symbols of Blackjacks are:
  1. Respect
  2. Friendship
  3. Integrity
  4. Leadership
  5. Service
  6. Scholarship
The National Society of Blackjacks was founded on September 13, 1967. Pershing Rifles Company R-7 at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri established the first known Blackjacks National Headquarters in September 1972. William F. Kuerz became the Blackjacks National Commander. The first Blackjack unit in the Pershing Rifles 7th Regiment was Blackjack Company A-7 at William Christman High School in Independence, Missouri. Company R-7 oversaw the Blackjacks program until the summer of 1975 when it moved to the MacDonald County High School in Anderson, Missouri. The Pershing Rifles National Headquarters assumed control of Blackjacks in the fall of 1976. Pershing Rifles 4th Regimental Headquarters at Clemson University assumed control of Blackjacks National Headquarters on April 9, 1977.
After the 1970s Blackjacks suffered a slow decline in membership until they ceased to exist. The National Society of Blackjacks was re-established in 2012 by Pershing Rifles.

Blackjacks units

Blackjacks units use a similar Company-Regimental Designation to that of the National Society of Pershing Rifles.

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