AFJROTC

HISTORY

The Junior ROTC program began in 1911 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The originator of this idea was Army Lieutenant Edgar R. Steevers, assigned the duty of inspector-instructor of the organized military of Wyoming. 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 Reserve Officer Training Corps Vitalization Act of 1964, directed the secretaries of each military service to establish and maintain JROTC units at public and private secondary schools which apply for and are eligible according to the regulations established by each secretary. Such schools must provide a course of military instruction not less than 3 years in length as prescribed by the military department concerned. 

With a modest beginning of 20 units in 1966 Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) has grown to 875 high schools throughout the world, including units located in the Department of Defense Schools in Europe, the Pacific and Puerto Rico. Junior ROTC enrollment worldwide includes over 124,000 cadets. Only boys were allowed as cadets in 1966, but Public Law 93-165 amended the requirement that a Junior ROTC unit have a minimum number of physically fit male students, thus allowing female students to count toward the minimum students needed for a viable unit. In 1972 the enrollment included 2,170 females making up 9% of the corps. Since then the number of females has increased to over 36% of the cadet corps. 

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 Air Force Junior ROTC Louisiana-063 unit was established at West Jefferson High School in January 1972 by agreement between the Jefferson Parish School District and the United States Air Force. From the very beginning, interested individuals within the school system and the community have been working hard to ensure a successful AFJROTC program.

AIR FORCE CORE VALUES

Core values are the foundation upon which a truly quality AFJROTC Program is built. Core values are also a fundamental set of guidelines that can serve you throughout your life. These are: 

INTEGRITY FIRST. Integrity means devotion to honesty, truthfulness, doing one's duty, and doing what is right. This means that your word can always be counted upon and that you can be trusted to accomplish your job. The willingness to do the right thing even when no one is looking. 

SERVICE BEFORE SELF. Service is the giving of self to provide for the welfare of others. Personal desires are not considered in the concept of service. Professional duties take precedence over personal desires. 

EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO. Excellence means doing the very best you can in each job you perform regardless of how large, small, difficult, or easy it is to accomplish. Strive to do your best, always giving 100 percent.