AFJROTC flight academy soaring

The face of aviation is beginning to look a lot like high school students. 

It’s been five years since the first group of AFJROTC cadets buckled up in cockpits in pursuit of an Air Force-sponsored private pilot certificate through the AFJROTC Flight Academy program.

Since the summer 2018, 1,089 AFJROTC cadets have pursued their dream of becoming a pilot - 861 succeeded. 

A big achievement considering that outside of the program, the dropout rate for learner pilots is around 80%. 

Headquarters AFJROTC first started taking Flight Academy scholarship applications in the fall of 2017. The first aviation classes starting the following summer at six partnering universities. That number has since grown to 24 universities today. 

The program was first launched as part of the Air Force Aircrew Crisis Task Force with the goals of restoring the luster of aviation to high school students by increasing the pool of pilots for both the military and civilian aviation, each facing severe pilot shortages and diversity inclusion in the cockpit. 

The AF fully funds the 8-week program without any requirement for graduates to pursue a military commitment. 

ir Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadet Paris Thompson pilots an aircraft during a flight over Iowa on July 20, 2023. Thompson, a student at Hamilton High School, Chandler, Ariz., was one of the cadets taking part in the Air Force JROTC Flight Academy private pilot certificate program at Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville, Iowa, over the summer. (Courtesy photo)

PHOTO DETAILS / DOWNLOAD HI-RE“ALL CADETS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR FLIGHT ACADEMY AND TO CONSIDER AVIATION AS A PROFESSION,” SAID BEN CARO, HEADQUARTERS AFJROTC PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT DIVISION CHIEF. “IT’S FANTASTIC TO SEE THE DIVERSITY OF THE CADETS INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM.”“THE FLIGHT ACADEMY HAS GENERATED TREMENDOUS INTEREST AMONG OUR AFJROTC CADET CORPS WITH OVER 9,000 APPLICANTS EXPRESSING THEIR DESIRE TO FLY,” SAID COL. JOHNNY MCGONIGAL, HEADQUARTERS AFJROTC DIRECTOR. “WE BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM MEETS THE AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF’S DESIRE TO INCREASE INTEREST IN AVIATION. IT ALSO PROVIDES AN ENDURING SOLUTION FOR PILOT PRODUCTION, WHILE ALSO IMPACTING THE DIVERSITY CHALLENGE FACING BOTH THE MILITARY AND CIVILIAN AVIATION COMMUNITIES.”

However, it has inspired many cadets to take the next step toward becoming a military pilot. 

The Flight Academy accepted the challenge, and the program has grown significantly.

The inaugural year some 120 cadets attended six universities. The AF has expanded the program by partnering with 24 universities in 2023 to host more than 300 cadets.

Current partnering universities are:

•  Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH

•  Charleston Southern University, North Charleston, SC

•  Delaware State University, Dover, DE

•  Delta State University, Cleveland, MS

•  East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

•  Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC

•  Embry Riddle AU – Daytona, Daytona, FL

•  Embry Riddle AU – Prescott, Prescott, AZ

•  Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV

•  Florida Memorial University, Miami Gardens, FL

•  Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN

•  Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville, IA 

•  Kansas State University – Salina, Salina, KS

•  Minnesota State University – Mankato, Mankato, MN 

•  Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

•  Southeastern University, Lakeland, FL

•  Spartan College of Aeronautics & Tech, Tulsa, OK

•  Texas Southern University, Houston, TX

•  Troy University, Troy, AL

•  Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL

•  University of Nebraska – Kearney, Kearney, NE

•  University of North Dakota – Arizona, Mesa, AZ

•  University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL

•  Walla Walla University, College Place, WA