About AFJROTC

The Air Force Junior ROTC (AFJROTC) program provides leadership training and an aerospace science curriculum for high school students. It offers a variety of classes and extracurricular activities that explore aerospace history, technology, and science. The program helps students build life skills like self-reliance, discipline, and leadership. Open to students in grades 9 through 12, AFJROTC is not a recruitment tool for the military, and participating students are not obligated to join the Air Force.

The main goals of AFJROTC are to teach cadets citizenship and life skills, encourage community service, instill responsibility, and build character through air and space education. The program emphasizes the Air Force's core values of Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.

The AFJROTC curriculum is divided into three parts: aerospace science (40%), leadership education (40%), and health and wellness (20%). Students who complete AFJROTC courses earn credit toward graduation. The aerospace science portion covers topics like the history of flight, principles of flight and navigation, human needs in flight, the development of aerospace power, rocketry, space exploration, and the aerospace industry. Students also learn military customs and courtesies, U.S. citizenship, first aid, health and fitness, drill and ceremonies, effective communication, management skills, and how to prepare for life after high school.

To reinforce classroom lessons, cadets participate in extracurricular activities such as parades, leadership labs, drill team competitions, color guards, and a military ball. Many AFJROTC units also collaborate with other organizations to enhance the program.

AFJROTC instructors are trained to maintain Air Force standards and must complete the AFJROTC Junior Instructor Certification Course. They are full-time faculty members at the high school, employed by the school district to teach AFJROTC classes. All instructors are retired Air Force commissioned officers or non-commissioned officers, or active members of the National Guard or Reserves. There are over 1,600 AFJROTC instructors worldwide.

Community service is a key part of the AFJROTC experience, helping students develop civic pride and citizenship. Each year, cadets contribute more than 1.6 million hours of service. They work with national organizations such as the March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy, the National Red Ribbon Campaign, and Special Olympics, as well as participate in local projects like cleaning and restoring cemeteries and parks.