AFJROTC Mission
Mission:
"Develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and
community”
The objectives of JROTC are to educate and train high school cadets in
citizenship, promote community service, instill responsibility, character,
and self-discipline, and provide instruction in air and space fundamentals.
The AFJROTC program is grounded in the Air Force core values of integrity
first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. The curriculum
emphasizes the Air Force heritage and traditions, the development of flight,
applied flight sciences, military aerospace policies, and space exploration.
Curriculum opportunities include:
Academic studies
Character education
Life skills education
Leadership opportunities
Team-building experiences
Intramural competition
Field trips / training opportunities
Community Projects
In an effort to produce well-informed and helpful citizens, AFJROTC
encourages its cadets to get involved in their local communities. This is
one of the most interesting and fun aspects of the AFJROTC experience. The
number, type and size of cadet community projects are limited only by their
imagination. Units perform as a team as they coordinate everything from car
washes to candy sales and from Jog-A-Thons to paper drives. Some units may
clean stadiums after football games and donate aluminum cans for community
recycling programs. Any proceeds from these fund-raising activities benefit
the respective units.
Many cadets also volunteer their time to support local non-profit events.
Some of these organizations include the March of Dimes, the Muscular
Dystrophy Association, the Adopt-a-Highway Program and the Special Olympics.
Cadets have worked to clean and refurbish cemeteries, rebuild parks, sponsor
little league teams and work with the visually and mentally impaired.
One AFJROTC unit organized a volunteer team to help a paralyzed boy walk
again by helping him with his physical therapy. Another unit worked with the
Multiple Sclerosis Swimming Therapy Sessions and the Handicapped Bowling
League. Yet another unit helped distribute clothing and food for homeless
native Americans. Cadets routinely visit homes for the aged, hospitals,
veterans groups and many other agencies to demonstrate their resolve to help
their community and their country.
AFJROTC History
Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) can track its
heritage to a program founded in 1911 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, by Army Lt Edgar
R. Steevers. Lieutenant Steevers was assigned as an inspector-instructor of
the organized military of Wyoming. During his assignment, he envisioned a
noncompulsory cadet corps comprised of high school students. His program was
aimed toward making better citizens.
The National Defense Act of 1916 authorized a junior course for non-college
military schools, high schools and other non-preparatory schools. The Army
implemented JROTC in 1916. Public Law 88-647, commonly known as the ROTC
Vitalization Act of 1964, directed the secretaries of each military service
to establish and maintain JROTC units for their respective services. The
first Air Force JROTC programs were opened in 1966.
“(The) purpose of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps [is] to instill in
students in United States secondary educational institutions the value of
citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility, and a
sense of accomplishment.” (10 USC Sec 2031)
Air Force JROTC (AFJROTC) is a continuing success story. From a modest
beginning of 20 units in 1966, AFJROTC has grown to 794 units throughout the
world, with 102,000 cadets. The AFJROTC program positively influences our
country by helping one student at a time. Comprised solely of active duty
Air Force retirees, the AFJROTC instructor force is helping to form
tomorrow’s nation by educating proud and patriotic cadets—tomorrow’s leaders.
