The Air Force JROTC and the National Association of Rocketry
As of May 2017, NAR has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) to foster greater cooperation among NAR sections and AFJROTC Squadrons to encourage joint rocketry activities.
The Air Force JROTC provides leadership training and an aerospace science program for high school students. Secondary school students who enroll in the AFJROTC program are offered a wide variety of curricular and extra-curricular activities. The program explores the historic and scientific aspects of aerospace technology and teaches high school students self-reliance, self-discipline and other characteristics found in good leaders. The AFJROTC program is open to 9th-12th grade students who are citizens of the United States. There are more than 121,000 high school cadets in the program and over 1,950 retired USAF instructors who lead, mentor, guide, and teach the cadets in high schools. AFJROTC enjoys overwhelming school administration and community support because of the huge positive impact on cadets, schools, communities, and our nation. The program is not a recruiting tool for the military services and those students who participate in AFJROTC do not incur any obligation to the Air Force, but the students do wear uniforms and follow military type protocol in their classes and activities.
AFJROTC cadets study many topics and have a thorough aerospace curriculum that includes launching rockets. They can work for and receive a Badge for fulfilling requirements given in their Rocketry Handbook. The Exploration of Space course complements the material taught in high school math, physics and other science-related courses. STEM concepts are taught in the AFJROTC classroom and practiced in very popular and critical co-curricular activities with STEM tools like classroom Flight Simulators, Model Rockets, and Remote Controlled (RC) Aircraft that have been used for years to enrich the learning opportunities and provide immersive learning. In 2014, AFJROTC added a fun and exciting STEM oriented activity by giving RC Multicopters (drones!) to a limited number of AFJROTC units. These hands on teaching and learning tools are used to not only reinforce STEM learning objectives, but to enhance the program’s Aerospace Science Curriculum.
How can NAR Sections assist AFJROTC with their rocketry program or help start and mentor a TARC team? Get to know your AFJROTC Unit Commander or their education officer and see how you might work together to promote model rocketry. To find your local unit, go to: https://batchgeo.com/map/da1201fcd9ccf0afd8a00c847e01903e and the search engine will generate a map with unit locations and contact information. You can also do a simple web search to find the many AFJROTC rocket activities.
For more information on AFJROTC, contact AFJROTC Headquarters, 60 West Maxwell Blvd., Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6501; phone 1-334-953-7513, online http://www.airuniversity.af.mil/Holm-Center/AFJROTC/