Air Force JROTC: Mission, Goals, & more...

Air Force Junior Reserves Officer Training Corps

Here at Tuscola High School, our focus is to prepare students for graduation and for plans that further their life goals beyond high school. We develop young people and orient them positively in preparation for whatever role in life they may choose. It is in this sense that Junior ROTC is part of the Air Force’s service to the nation partially because the program is run by retired military personnel, but Junior ROTC does not recruit students for military service.

      We believe the choice to join the military is entirely up to    

           the student and his or her parents and/or guardians.       

AFJROTC awards academic grades, but its true measure of success are the young people it motivates to stay in school and stay on track to graduate. This program aids to self esteem development and strives to help students avoid negative influences. Ribbons and Merits of excellence are also rewarded to students who achieve above and beyond expectations.

Mission

"Developing citizens of character."

Goals

Instill values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility, and sense of accomplishment.

Personnel and Resources

The Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps staff includes 31 headquarters’ personnel and more than 1,910 retired Air Force officer and enlisted military instructors. There are 831 Air Force Junior ROTC units with nearly 120,000 cadets in high schools across the United States and selected Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Europe and the Pacific and public schools in Puerto Rico and Guam. The Air Force plans to continue expansion efforts to 955 units when funds are available. With the addition of new units, AFJROTC is expected to reach more than 135,000 cadets worldwide. 

Organization

Air Force JROTC provides leadership training and an aerospace science program for high school students. Secondary school students who enroll in the AFJROTC program are offered a wide variety of curricular and extra-curricular activities. The program explores the historic and scientific aspects of aerospace technology and teaches high school students self-reliance, self-discipline and other characteristics found in good leaders. The AFJROTC program is open to 9th-12th grade students who are citizens of the United States. The program is not a recruiting tool for the military services and those students who participate in AFJROTC do not incur any obligation to the Air Force. 

Objectives of Air Force Junior ROTC 

Educate and train high school cadets in citizenship and life skills

Promote community service

Instill a sense responsibility

Develop character and self-discipline through education and instruction in air and space fundamentals and the Air Force’s core values of “integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.” 

Curriculum

Aerospace science comprises 40 percent of the curriculum, leadership education 40 percent, and health and wellness for life training 20 percent. All students who successfully complete AFJROTC classes are granted credit toward graduation. Classroom study includes the heritage of flight, principles of aircraft flight and navigation, human requirements of flight, development of aerospace power, aerospace vehicles, rocketry, space and technology programs, and the aerospace industry. Students are also introduced to military customs and courtesies, citizenship in the United States, first aid, wellness, health and fitness, basic drill and ceremonies, effective communications, management, human relations, and life after high school. All uniforms and curriculum materials are provided by the Air Force. 

To reinforce what is learned in the classroom, cadets participate in many outside activities such as field trips to military bases, aerospace facilities and industries, museums, civilian airports and other areas related to aerospace education. 

Cadets also participate in parades, leadership laboratory activities, civilian air rifle marksmanship programs, drill team competitions, color and honor guards, military balls, and honorary academic groups. Many AFJROTC units complement the curriculum through the cooperation and resources of organizations such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Civil Air Patrol, and the National Endowment for Financial Education.

Instructors

All AFJROTC instructors are typically retired Air Force commissioned and non-commissioned officers. The instructors maintain Air Force standards and are trained through the AFJROTC Academic Instructor Course. They are full-time faculty members of the participating high school and are employed by the local school board to teach AFJROTC classes. There are more than 1,910 instructors serving in the 831 units around the world.

 Community Service 

Community service is a major part of the cadet experience and helps instill a sense of civic pride and citizenship. Projects range from working with national organizations like the March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy, the National Red Ribbon Campaign, and Special Olympics to participating in local community projects such as cleaning and refurbishing cemeteries, building parks, and sponsoring Little League baseball teams. In school year 2023-2024, JROTC cadets performed more than 1.56 million hours of community service.

Drug Abuse Prevention 

Cadets are also very active in drug abuse prevention education. The Awareness Presentation Team is a program designed to provide cadets as positive role models for elementary and middle school students. Cadets visit the younger students at their schools and present talks and skits in an effort to deter drug use and abuse. Active unit programs make presentations to thousands of students each year.

Scholarships and Other Benefits

AFJROTC cadets who choose to continue their education may receive special consideration for Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarships. Many of these scholarships will pay for two, three, or four years of tuition, books, and fees at numerous universities and colleges and allow cadets to pursue studies in various technical and non-technical majors. 

Cadets completing two years of AFJROTC and who continue ROTC in college may waive one term of the AFROTC program. Students completing three years in AFJROTC may receive credit for a full year of college level AFROTC.

In addition, cadets electing to enter the military immediately after graduating from high school are eligible to enlist in the services at one to two pay grades higher than other enlistees. Students completing three years in AFJROTC are eligible to enter the Air Force two pay grades higher than other enlistees and are automatically enrolled into the Community College of the Air Force to receive college credit toward their associate college degree.

For More Information

For more information on AFJROTC, contact AFJROTC Headquarters, 60 West Maxwell Blvd., Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6501; online http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter.