Volcano Vista Air Force JROTC

Mission:  “To develop citizens of character.”

The objectives of the US Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFJROTC) are to educate high school students in citizenship, promote community service, provide instruction in air and space fundamentals, and instill responsibility, character, and self-discipline.  In short, the aim of AFJROTC is to provide high school students (cadets) with tools they will need to be successful adults.

Common misconceptions:

Air Force JROTC is NOT a military recruiting program.  Our instructors are Air Force veterans who draw on their experience to teach high school students about real life as adults.  We can connect cadets who have goals of military service with the appropriate people if they desire, but our role is to prepare them for life after high school regardless of what path they choose.  There is NO obligation to the military from JROTC.

Air Force JROTC is NOT a “scared straight” program for perpetual troublemakers.  On the contrary, most cadets in JROTC are serious about their future and tend to be good examples for other students.

Cadets do not have to wear a uniform every day, but they do have to maintain haircut and personal appearance standards.  (Religious and cultural waivers are possible on a case-by-case basis.)  We typically wear an Air Force uniform (provided by the Air Force) only once a week on Mondays, and a Physical Training (PT) t-shirt or sweatshirt on PT days.  The uniform is not meant to be a military recruiting tool, rather a part of our curriculum designed to teach cadets about professional appearance standards common to most workplaces they will encounter after high school regardless of which path they choose.

The VVHS AFJROTC Program:

Our AFJROTC program integrates traditional and STEM activities with leadership instruction focused on critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, communication, collaboration, and management.  Cadets who complete the entire AFJROTC Leadership curriculum can take the NOCTI Leadership and Employability Exam as seniors and earn a certification in addition to their diploma which comes with 3 semester-hours of college credit.

Successfully completing one year of JROTC also satisfies the high school PE course requirement.

The AFJROTC program is grounded in the Air Force Core Values of Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.  The curriculum emphasizes Air Force heritage and traditions, the development of flight, applied flight sciences, and space exploration.  Cadets who have completed 2 years of JROTC can take an Aviation Ground School course in place of the 3^rd or 4^th year JROTC class.  The Ground School class prepares cadets for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Private Pilot or Commercial Drone Pilot written examinations, which are the first step in the process of becoming a professional airplane or drone pilot.  During the ground school course cadets have the opportunity to apply for several different flight training scholarships to further their training.

Activities:

In addition to community service events, cadets are encouraged to participate in their choice of several activities.  Traditional activities include the physical fitness team, flag football and hoover ball teams, color guard, drill team, and air rifle marksmanship.  STEM activities include CyberPatriot competition, which involves learning about computer and network security, model rocketry, drone competition, and aviation activities.  Advanced cadets have the chance to serve in staff/management positions, or on a presentation team.  Some competition teams have the opportunity to travel, and we typically have at least one field trip per year.  We also have fun activities including a family campout and an annual Air Force Ball.  Cadets may also elect to participate in various summer camp activities.

Zero-Hour JROTC Class:

Cadets who wish to focus extra time on preparing for competitions can elect to join our zero-hour skills class and earn additional elective credit as they practice for events like PT, color guard, drill, marksmanship, and more .  The zero-hour class is an additional class that provides for extra practice time and is not a substitute for the regular JROTC class.

Associations:

We partner with various organizations on different activities, including local government agencies and non-profits, the FAA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the New Mexico National Guard, the REC League (for drone competition), and other school JROTC and leadership programs.  We typically refer our aviation students to Bode Aviation at either Double Eagle II Airport or the ABQ Sunport for flight training if they receive flight scholarships.  Nationally, AFJROTC has a relationship with the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) for earning college credit and professional credentials.  Parents or Guardians are encouraged to get involved in our booster organization for fundraising and helping with activities.

Participation in other High School Activities:

We recognize that many members of VVHS AFJROTC are also involved in other activities, including high school sports, band, choir, drama, student government, high school clubs, part time jobs, church activities, and so on.  We are very flexible and work hard to ensure that every cadet can take full advantage of all the other activities that they desire to be part of their high school experience.  AFJROTC should not prevent someone from participating in other school activities.  Most JROTC activities can be accomplished during class time. 

 

We are located in the B wing of VVHS, room B-154, in the part of the school nearest the bus parking lot.  Please feel free to contact us for more information:

Major Hartenstein:  theodore.hartenstein@aps.edu

Senior Master Sergeant Wineland:  adrian.wineland@aps.edu