The History of AFJROTC
The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program was founded in 1911 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, by Army Lieutenant Edgar R. Steevers.
Lieutenant Steevers was assigned as an inspector-instructor of the organized military of Wyoming. During his assignment he envisioned a non-compulsory cadet corps comprised of high school students. His program was aimed toward making better citizens. He wanted to teach young men the advantages of having a strong body and mind, the value of self-control and the importance of community service.
The National Defense Act of 1916 authorized a junior course for non-collage military schools, high schools, and other non-preparatory schools. The Army implemented JROTC in 1916. Public Law 88-647, commonly known as the ROTC Vitalization Act of 1964, directed the Secretaries of each military service to establish and maintain JROTC units for their respective services.
With a modest begining of 20 units in 1966, Air Force JROTC has grown to over 600 units throughout the world, with a current enrollment of 85,000 cadets. Though the origional units were comprised of only men, the admissions regulations changed in 1972 to allow women to join. By the end of that year, over 2,100 females were admitted as new cadets. Since then, the number of females has increased to over 34,000 -- a full 41 percent of the corps.