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US Air Force JROTC

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, and leadership. About 60% of the course is devoted to the first four subjects. At least one retired officer and NCO are assigned to each unit. The officer is designated as the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor (SASI), and the NCO as the Aerospace Science Instructor (ASI). Additional NCO instructors are authorized if the cadet enrollment exceeds 150. However, an officer may be substituted if requested by the school and approved by AFOATS.

The JROTC program is organized just like the active duty Air Force. There are groups, squadrons, flights and elements, and likewise there are cadet commanders who oversee these various levels within the JROTC program. The structured atmosphere JROTC provides for the cadets gives them a sense of direction and belonging. The Air Force supplies curriculum materials such as instructor guides, textbooks, training aids, uniforms for students, some training equipment, a vehicle rental allowance, a telephone charge allowance, and a portion of the instructor's pay. The school furnishes a portion of the instructor's pay, the necessary facilities for the classroom instruction, equipment and uniform storage, a drill area, and the same supervision, support, and equipment normally provided other teachers and classes.

The law requires that a fair and equitable geographic distribution be followed; therefore, schools may be selected in any of the 50 states. A few units are located overseas within the dependents schools system, one is on Guam, and four are in Puerto Rico. Policy requires that the unit be accessible to an active duty base and not be in the same school with Army, Navy, or Marine Corps Junior ROTC units. Since the school must maintain 100 students or 10 percent of the school population (whichever is less) in the program, schools having fewer than 500 students are not usually considered.

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 746 units throughout the world, with 104,000 cadets. The AFJROTC program positively influences the 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. The AFJROTC program enrolls approximately 104,000 cadets, employs more than 1,700 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 Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools (AFOATS), 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. 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. New instructors worked at the 57 new units JROTC added in high schools during fiscal 2002. The expansion provided increased opportunities for rewarding community service positions for retired service members interested in becoming high school teachers. People from all career fields were needed. It doesn't matter what profession the person had in the Air Force. The leadership skills, customs and courtesies, academic background and professional military education are all excellent preparation for taking a role as a leader in the AFJROTC classroom.

Instructors should be retired active-duty officer or enlisted members who have served a minimum of 20 years or retired under the Temporary Early Retirement Authority with at least 15 years of active-duty service. Active duty applicants must be within six months of their retirement date. Instructors wear their uniforms, need to meet current weight requirements and receive a salary equal to the difference between their retired pay and their active-duty pay and allowances, excluding incentive pay, that they would receive if on active duty. The minimum pay to the instructor is split between the Air Force and the school district, although most school districts pay an amount that is even higher than the minimum payment. Many retirees find serving as a JROTC instructor is a rewarding second career.