The Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) is a Federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools and also in some middle schools across the United States and United States military bases across the world

 

AFJROTC instills in students in the 9th-12th grade the values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility, and personal responsibility through education and mentoring.  The AFJROTC program is primarily a 3-year course of military instruction, with a fourth year being optional.  The curriculum is academically comparable to a secondary level science course. The curriculum includes an introduction to aviation, national defense, careers, space, global studies, leadership, and health and wellness.

 

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

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Community ProjectsIn 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.

Programs and Operations

The AFJROTC program enrolls approximately 102,000 cadets, employs more than 1,900 instructors and operates units in 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, and Guam. AFJROTC units are located within host high schools, public and private, and, by law, the program is limited to students in grades 9 – 12. AFJROTC instructors are employees of the host school.

A subordinate organization to Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accession and Citizen Development Center (Holm Center), there are four branches within the AFJROTC Headquarters: Instructor Management, Resources, Program Support and Operations. The Branch Chiefs are supervised by the Deputy Director, AFJROTC, who serves as the primary liaison between AFJROTC, the host schools, local school districts, and state boards of education.

Instructor Management. 
Recruits, certifies eligibility to teach AFJROTC, monitors the performance of AFJROTC instructors, and recommends de-certification of AFJROTC instructors as necessary. Additionally, provides assistance and authoritative guidance to instructors, and school officials, including assistance in the selection and hiring of instructors. Receives and processes instructor applications. Supervises administration of the instructor evaluation system.

Resources. 
Provides financial management, instructor payroll computations and reconciliation's, and cost accounting services for the AFJROTC program. Formulates, executes, and analyzes budgets for headquarters’ operations, host schools, support activities, and organizational components. Monitors, tracks, and reviews obligations, expenditures, reimbursable orders, and projected costs to determine trends in spending and forecast annual funding needs. Reviews budget submissions for compliance with rules, regulations, and procedures.

Program Support. 
Provides logistical, educational program, information management, information/education technology, and training support to the world’s largest aerospace science and education program. Manages the Honors Ground School Program and oversight for FAA certified instructors. Conducts certification and training workshops and collects data on student performance and demographics. Provide logistics, supply, and facilities support and guidance regarding procurement, storing, and inventory of supplies and equipment, AF uniforms, and inert rifles for the JROTC Program.

Operations. 
Provides staff initiatives and policy to implement the world’s largest aerospace science and education program. Ensures program is conducted pursuant to DoD directives and Air Force instructions and prepares reports and maintains statistical data on the same. Reviews unit assessment and inspection reports to ensure school districts comply with DoD and Air Force instructions and the provisions of the Application and Agreement for establishing a JROTC unit. Conducts follow-up actions on reported discrepancies. Coordinates site surveys at schools interested in hosting an AFJROTC unit. Functions as the activation and deactivation coordinator for all AFJROTC units.