About Us

The West Orange High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps is a program that is offered at West Orange High School. It is a class in which students learn about three core curriculums that include aerospace science, leadership education, and health and wellness. Our instructors, Senior Aerospace Instructor Major Joseph Marchesini and Chief Master Sergeant Ricardo Thurston, are there to teach all cadets and help guide them to be the best they can be. The program is mostly led by the 2018-2019 Squadron Commander, Aamore Richards, and the 2018-2019 Director of Operations, Ayana Tapper, who are in charge of the entire squadron.

The AFJROTC program is grounded on the core values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. This program emphasizes the idea of how important teamwork, leadership, and community service is. Our outstanding squadron earned the "AFJROTC Distinguished Unit with Merit" award in 2017 and earned the "AFJROTC Distinguished Unit" in 2018. Our amazing unit receives exceptional support from the school, the town, parents, teachers, administrators, and many other members of the community. The Mountaineer Squadron keeps striving and aiming higher and higher each year to become better as a unit and stronger as a family to prove that we are the best in New Jersey.