On March 4, 1968 Northwestern High School (NWHS) was selected by thenSecretary of the United States Navy, The Honorable Paul R. Ignatius, to be the first high school in Prince George's County to host a Navy Junior ROTC (NJROTC) program.

Since that time numerous other high schools in the country now have an NJROTC program. In addition NWHS NJROTC has a rich history of consistently being selected as a Distinguished Honor NJROTC program - not only here in Prince George's County, distinguishing itself as one of the top Units in the Nation.