Intro to AFJROTC
The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program began in 1911 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The originator of this idea was Army Lieutenant Edgar R. Steevers. 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 Junior ROTC in 1916. Public Law 88-647, commonly known as the Reserve Officer Training Corps Vitalization Act of 1964, directed the secretaries of each military service to establish and maintain Junior ROTC units at public and private secondary schools which apply for and are eligible according to the regulations established by each secretary.
With a modest beginning of 20 units in 1966 Air Force Junior AFJROTC has grown to 900 high schools throughout the world. Junior ROTC enrollment worldwide includes over 121,000 cadets. The AFJROTC program provides citizenship training and an aerospace science program for high school youth. Enrollment in the AFJROTC program is open to all young people who are in grades 9-12, physically fit, and are United States citizens. Host schools are selected upon the basis of fair and equitable distribution throughout the nation. Retired Air Force commissioned and noncommissioned officers who are full-time faculty members of the participating high school and employed by the local school board teach AFJROTC classes.
The “mission” of the AFJROTC program is “Developing citizens of character.”
The “goals” of the AFJROTC program are to instill:
- The values of citizenship,
- Service to the United States,
- Personal responsibility, and
- A sense of accomplishment.