Air Force Junior JROTC advances new Career Technical Education pathway for services’ counterparts

  • Published
  • By Christian P. Hodge
  • Air Force Junior ROTC Public Affairs

Air Force Junior ROTC cadets along with JROTC cadets from the other services now have a new Career Technical Education pathway at high schools across the nation and many countries and U.S. territories around the world, effective Sept. 1, 2021.

Air Force JROTC Headquarters spearheaded the initiative by working diligently with the Department of Education, Advanced CTE, judge advocate general and the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute.

“Select instructors from each service program, led by Michael Wetzel, lead instructional designer, Air Force JROTC, in partnership with National Occupational Competency Testing Institute, developed the Leadership and Employability Skills Credential,” said Kevin Reuter, chief, AFJROTC Curriculum. “This credential provides industry based recognition for subject areas such as leadership, management, teamwork, integrity and civic responsibility.”

According to Reuter, employers are seeking these competences in today's workforce.

“We are rewarding the dedication and work cadets have put forth in representing their schools and communities,” said Reuter. “Moreover, this huge undertaking was done at zero cost to cadets, their programs or the service branches.”

This new credentialing initiative impacts over 500,000 middle and high school students enrolled in JROTC programs. There are approximately 125,000 cadets in AFJROTC alone.

“This is a huge win for all of JROTC as it provides a recognized CTE pathway for our cadets,” Scotty E. Lewis, deputy director, Air Force JROTC Headquarters. “Moving forward, we are really excited to see how this program will benefit the futures of our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force cadets.”