FAQ

JROTC is Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. At Waterloo West High, we offer Air Force JROTC. We focus on developing citizens of character. Our mission is not to recruit people into the military, rather, we learn about air & space science, leadership education and community service. 

If you are seeking an edge in your leadership and management skills, want to learn about air & space science (no math required!), and you want to build a bond with a great group of fellow Cadets, then the Corps is the place for you  The Corps is just a big family and you'll always find someone, especially when you try one of the numerous extra activities we offer!

There is no military commitment. If however, your end goal is to join the military, there are benefits in the form of early promotion given to those with 2-3 years of JROTC experience.

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’s degree. (af.mil, 2015)

JROTC is a lot of fun and you learn a lot of life leadership lessons. The more involved you are the more fun you'll have. Overall, the Corp is going to be a support system for you. If you stay in JROTC for your entire high school career, Chief Wallace is going to be there to help guide you along the way and help you  as you grow in leadership abilities and character development.

You can check out our Corps goals page to see our goals for this school year. 

Our overall mission is to "develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community."

The curriculum is comprised of aerospace science (40 %), leadership education (40 %), and health and wellness studies (20 %). Students who successfully complete the classes are granted credit toward graduation. Aerospace science 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, aerospace industry, cultural studies of major world regions, and cyber technology. STEM curriculum is introduced to help students better understand the science-and math-related curriculum, improve critical-thinking skills, and prepare cadets to be more competitive in the 21st century. Leadership education introduces students to military customs and courtesies, character education, citizenship in the United States, first aid, wellness, health and fitness, basic drill and ceremonies, critical thinking, effective communications, management, human relations and college and career readiness, preparing students for life after high school. AFJROTC units complement the curriculum through cooperation and resources of organizations such as NASA and Civil Air Patrol (af.mil, 2015).

There are a few extracurricular activities that we offer which can all be found on our Leadership Development Requirements page, which can be commonly referred to as an LDR.

Cadets who choose to continue their education may receive special consideration for Air Force ROTC 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. (af.mil, 2015)