Activities

Air Force Junior ROTC: A Fixture at AAHS

Kailey Baldwin, Journalist|December 12, 2018

The AFJROTC Logo

The Air Force Junior ROTC has made a huge impact at Air Academy. From attending school in their uniforms and the presentation of the colors at assemblies, to bringing food and drink to teachers during Parent-Teacher Conferences, ROTC kids make noticeable changes in the school. However, to someone on the outside, ROTC might seem strange and foreign.

The mission of the Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFJROTC), according to their website, is to “Develop citizens of character, dedicated to serving their nation and community.”

ROTC provides students with leadership experience. It looks excellent on college applications, which is a huge benefit for the students involved. If one intends to follow a military path, ROTC is an ideal early start. Students develop skills that’ll give them a headstart experience wise.

In addition, students learn about military history and aerospace science in class, as well as leadership education. Along with this, ROTC offers a chance for students to stay in shape with a number of fitness and exercise tests.

To some students, however, the best part of ROTC isn’t necessarily the academic benefits.

“I really like how it’s more than just a class,” said junior Jeremy Mare, who has been a part of ROTC since his freshmen year. “It’s like a camaraderie kind of thing. We do a bunch of stuff together; we’re all friends. It’s a lot of fun.”

From an outside perspective, ROTC kids always seem to be having fun.

If you are interested in the program, act quick. It’s easiest for freshmen and underclassmen to get involved, as they get into more advanced concepts the longer they’re involved. The current ROTC teachers are Col. Robert Huber, SMSgt. Jerry Archuleta, and MSgt. George Reyes. If interested, make sure to talk with them.

ROTC is a class, which is something to be mindful of. It may not be for everyone. There are uniforms that you must wear once a week, and strict requirements on hairstyles and other appearance-related things.

But, if this seems compelling, knowledge in Aerospace science or the Military, specifically the Air Force, will be introduced through ROTC and it is a gateway into ROTC in college.

Top Five Benefits of ROTC