The Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) Program located at Eau Gallie High School under the title “FL-031” has been a permanent fixture within the campus walls since 1957. They are among 740 units, enrolling approximately 102,000 cadets located around the world. The objectives of JROTC are to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship, promote community service, instill responsibility, character, and self-discipline, and provide instruction in air and space fundamentals.
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 the Air Force heritage and traditions, the development of flight, applied flight sciences, military aerospace policies, and space exploration.
To this end, FL-031 maintains a very busy schedule arranging activities from actual flights on C-130 (transport) and HH-60 (helicopter) aircraft stationed at Patrick AFB to kennel support at a local animal shelter within Brevard County. Within the last two years, FL-031 has donated over 7000 community service hours and raised nearly 400 pounds of animal food for local shelters. These service hours include Color Guard support to numerous veteran organizations, the Orlando Magic home games, and NASCAR at Daytona. Additionally, FL-031 community service activities reaches deeper into Brevard County through Flags for Veterans Graves (our cadets fundraise to purchase American flags which are placed on Veteran grave sites), fundraising for Relay for Life, and mailing care packages to our troops serving in austere locations. Finally, as part of their fun activities, they sponsor both an Exceptional Education Valentines Day dance (completely funded by FL-031) and Military Ball. This year, the FL-031 Military Ball set record attendance with 167 students and cadets enjoying a prom-like evening out of good food and dancing.
In order to support the tremendous task of running this activity-laden organization, FL-031 is structured very similar to an actual Air Force group. They have a Corps Commander, Deputy Commander, and Executive Officer among other officers charged with planning and executing the mission of the Corps. These tasks include training new cadets on the nuances of the program through planning/execution of the Military Ball.
The mission of AFJROTC through FL-031 is to produce citizens of character. Graduates of the program move on to serve our country in military services or excel in a college program of their choice. These include all the service academies like West Point and the Air Force Academy. If this program seems like something you might be interested in, contact Lt Col (Ret) Robert Thorp, 321-242-6400 x5363 or thorp.robert@brevardschools.org