Air Force JROTC teachers sought

Dick Benoit

Thursday, May 12, 2005 | 9:14 a.m.

The Air Force is looking for qualified instructors to serve in rapidly expanding Air Force Junior ROTC programs, said Jo Alice Talley, chief of instructor management for Air Force Junior ROTC in a release from its headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

According to Talley, retired airmen interested in becoming Junior ROTC instructors must have retired from active duty within the past five years, while airmen on active duty may apply for positions when they are within six months of their retirement date. In some cases, the five-year requirement for retired airman may be waived up to 10 years based on applicant qualifications and the needs of the program.

The release pointed out that, as a requirement of the No Child Left Behind Act, a minimum of an associate's degree will also be required in the near future.

In a phone interview with In Uniform, Talley noted that, while existing and new positions at Las Vegas high schools are currently filled, she would encourage retired officers and NCO's and those within six months of retirement at Nellis Air Force Base, who would be interested, to visit the organizations Web site at www.afoats.af.mil and apply.

The Air Force is opening 48 new Junior ROTC units in high schools in 21 states including one that will stand up at Las Vegas's new Liberty High School this fall. Other high schools with Air Force JROTC programs in Las Vegas are Durango, Rancho, Western and Palo Verde. North Valley High School in Reno also has a program, Talley said.

"To meet our expansion goal, we need a total of 35 officers and 60 (noncommissioned officers) to serve in new units (nation-wide)," Talley said. "In addition to the new positions for the upcoming school year, we anticipate another 50 to 75 positions in existing units that will be vacated through instructor retirement."

Nationally, the program expanded in 2004 and will continue to grow from its current 746 units to 945 units by the start of the 2007-2008 school year.

"With more than 160 schools on the waiting list, we expect to be able to open another 75 units in 2006 and 76 in 2007, which will bring us to the authorized (number)," said Col. H.B. McCarraher III, Air Force Junior ROTC director.

"We are looking for airmen who want to use the skills they learned and the education they received in the Air Force to prepare high school students to take their place as tomorrow's (airmen)," McCarraher said. "As instructors, they should exemplify the Air Force's core values and set the highest standards of conduct and appearance for themselves and their students."

More information on the AFJROTC program is available at www.afoats.af.mil.

In brief