The British equivalent of the ROTC is the OTC -- I have some information on the OTC at home that I'll have to dig out. There are high school versions of ROTC, J(Junior)ROTC, and then of course, "auxillary" organizations like the Civil Air Patrol and the Sea Cadets.

Lord Baden-Powell intended the Boy Scouts to be "para-military" (and I realize this term has negative connotations in the 21st century US) and teach young boys aspects of military life, as well as a moral code. B-P based much of scouting on his own experiences in the South African (Boer) War. There were also the Boys Brigades, a competitor to the Scouts.

Cheers,

Todd