ROTC

ROTC

Lt Col Thomas Sparaco, USAF (Retired)
Aerospace Science Instructor

 


Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) is a citizenship program for high school students in the ninth through twelfth grades. Although it has many similarities to college-level ROTC, AFJROTC is not a military entrance program. Students are not recruited into the military. AFJROTC encourages its students to get involved in their local communities to produce well-informed and helpful citizens. Each year’s Aerospace Science course work relates to a different theme. Examples include: A Journey into Aviation History, The Science of Flight, and The Exploration of Space. To enhance classroom learning, students participate in extracurricular and social activities such as field trips, drill teams, honor guards, model rocketry, and evening functions. All AFJROTC courses also include a Wellness and Physical Fitness component each week.

All Aerospace courses are open to both boys and girls and are options for elective courses. All Aerospace students are required to wear the AFJROTC uniform (provided free) once per week and they are required to maintain certain minimum grooming standards. Failure to comply with either requirement will result in course failure and removal from the program.

Forty percent of the course deals with military and leadership training and ceremonial drill. Forty percent is devoted to aerospace science academic studies. Twenty percent is focused on preparation and participation in the Wellness and Physical Fitness component.

All Aerospace students are expected to participate in extra and co-curricular activities. Clubs and teams usually meet once or twice per week between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. On occasion, there is the possibility of an overnight field trip. All Aerospace students are expected to participate in the annual Memorial Day parade, Military Awards Banquet, and Dining-in.



For a complete list of courses & descriptions, click on the Course Guide link on the Student dropdown menu.