Aerospace Studies introduces cadets to the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer
Training Corps (AFJROTC) program through three components:

Leadership Education, Aerospace Science, and Wellness.

 

Leadership Education contains sections on cadet and Air Force organizational
structure; uniform wear; customs, courtesies, and other military traditions; individual
self-control; and citizenship. Cadets further progress through the AFJROTC program
with a focus on introducing students to the finer aspects of communication, awareness, and
leadership; helping students in deciding which path to take after high school; providing
information about financial planning and how to save, invest, and spend money wisely, as
well as how not to get caught in the credit trap; and providing cadets exposure to the
fundamentals of management through the study of ethical dilemmas, case studies, and
role play activities based on real-life experiences.

 

Aerospace Science, cadets explore aviation history, focusing on the
development of flight throughout the centuries. It starts with ancient civilizations, then
progresses through time to modern day. The emphasis is on civilian and military
contributions to aviation and the development, modernization, and transformation of the
Air Force. In addition, cadets focus on how airplanes fly, how weather conditions affect
flight, flight and the human body, and flight navigation. Cadets also explore how history,
geography, religion, economics, and politics combine to create unique and diverse
cultures in various regions of the world; and cadets study the history of space science and
space exploration from the earliest days of interest in astronomy to the latest advances in
space technology, including robotics in space, the Mars Rover, and commercial uses of
space.

 

Wellness covers multiple health and wellness issues impacting students and
includes one class period a week of physical fitness to strengthen the body and develop
teamwork.

 

Students who take Aerospace Studies are offered the option to wear the Air
Force camouflage and dress blue uniform each week for a test grade. Air Force
grooming standards are enforced for cadets who accept to wear the uniform. Students
who do not accept to wear the uniform will be issued an AFJROTC polo shirt to wear
each week for the same test grade. Grooming standards do not apply to cadets who
accept the polo shirt. The polo option can only be offered to first semester cadets.

 

Aerospace Studies Honors. Students wishing to increase their weighted GPA
by requesting Honors credit for Aerospace Studies may do so at any grade level.
Additional requirements include (but are not limited to) a research paper, acceptance of
the Air Force uniform to include grooming standards, and planning/leading a unit
project/activity.

 

Management of the Corps (AFJROTC IV Honors). The honors program is
designed for cadets to demonstrate essential skills through reading, writing, speaking,
production, and/or performance. Skills in analysis, logic, and creativity will also be
showcased through successful completion of this program. This hands-on experience
affords cadets the opportunity to put theories of previous leadership courses into practice.
Planning, organizing, coordinating, directing, controlling, and decision-making will be
done by cadets. They will put into practice their communication, decision-making,
personal interaction, managerial, and organizational skills.

 

AFJROTC Honors is limited to cadets in the junior and senior grade, AS 3 and above,
with a minimum 3.0 average GPA overall or higher. Senior Aerospace Science Instructor
approval required before registration.

Here are some answers to comments/questions I have received about JROTC:
- I don't want to join the Air Force.

ANSWER: We are not recruiters. The things we teach in JROTC are for ALL branches
of service. Marines, Army Soldiers, and Navy Seamen all wear a uniform and march
95% the same. Taking this class will help you in ANY of our military service's basic
training. They all want confident troops. They all want recruits who are responsible,
have self-discipline, who can lead others, follow instructions, and who know how to be a
team player.

ANSWER: For your first semester as a cadet you can wear a polo instead of the
uniform. Otherwise yes you do need to wear the uniform.

 

ANSWER: Whether you join the military or not, your boss will not care if you are cool.
Being cool is not a career. Successful high school graduates are ALWAYS focused on
goals after high school and being cool is never one of those goals. Consider this,
"millionaires are generally cool AFTER they have worked hard to become millionaires."

- Will I have to shave, cut my hair, and wear a uniform?

ANSWER: If you wear the polo you won’t. However the JROTC does use official
military uniforms which means you will need to shave and keep your hair cut to
respect the uniform.
Counselors are willing to change your schedule if you feel this is the right move for
you.

I ask you to come by and talk with SMSgt Lyles or I. What could it hurt? You could also
call our office phone 336-667-2122 or email us at [email protected] or
[email protected].
Thank you for your time.

 

Lt Col Sapp