Air Force Junior ROTC

Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) is an Air Force-sponsored life skills program for all 9^th-12^th grade students. The Colorado (CO-20101) Cadet Squadron of the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) was established in 2010. The Air Force Junior ROTC curriculum includes aerospace-related academic instruction and leadership training, as well as the development of personal potential, self-confidence, and communication skills.

Mapleton’s program is led by a Senior Aerospace Science Instructor and Leadership Education Instructor. Both leaders are retired Air Force personnel with extensive backgrounds in professional education and Air Force training. The cadet squadron is managed and operated by cadet-commissioned and non-commissioned officers. Through the cadet organization, cadets learn leadership skills and how to direct activities.

Mapleton’s Air Force JROTC is open to all high school students. Interested eighth-grade students are encouraged to speak to their school director about possible participation.

About Us

Objectives

The overall objectives of the AFJROTC program

The cadets to develop:

An appreciation of the basic elements and requirements for national security.
Respect for and an understanding of the need for constituted authority in a democratic society.
Patriotism and an understanding of their personal obligation to contribute toward national security.
Habits of orderliness and precision.
A high degree of personal honor, self-reliance, and leadership.
Broad-base knowledge of the aerospace age and fundamental aerospace doctrine.
Basic military skills.
A knowledge of, and appreciation for the traditions of the Air Force.
Pursuing higher educational goals or skills.
An interest in the Air Force as a career.

During the school year, there are 2 school goals, 2 community goals, and 2 cadet goals. One cadet goal must be academic, one school goal should be recruiting/retention-based, and one community goal should be focused on service.

Core Values

Integrity First: Integrity is the willingness to do what is right even when no one is looking. It is the ability to hold together and properly regulate all the elements of a personality. It also covers courage, responsibility, accountability, and self-respect.

Service before Self: Service before self tells us that professional duties take precedence over personal desires. At the very least it includes rule following, respect for others, discipline, self-control, and faith in the system.

Excellence in All We Do: Excellence in all we do directs us to develop a sustained passion for continuous improvement and innovation that will propel the Air Force into a long-term, upward spiral of accomplishment and performance. This applies to, but is not limited to, the following areas: Product/service excellence, personal excellence, community excellence, resources excellence, and operations excellence.

*More information on the Core Values can be found in “The Little Blue Book” – The United States Air Force Core Values book.

Mission Statement

CONGRATULATIONS RAIDER SQUADRON🎉🎉🎉 on earning the Distinguished Unit Award with Merit for 2024-2025. Your hard work and dedication to excellence, contributed greatly to our overall success. To all our parents and guardians, your support was the backbone of this organization. Finally, "THANK YOU" MPS leadership for what you do for us and the entire community. RAIDERS...Fly! Fight! Win!

News and EVENT'S Part 1

On 17 April 2026, the RAIDER Squadron held its annual Military Ball and Awards Ceremony. Our guest speaker for this event was Thornton Mayor, Jan Kulmann. Also, in attendance was Drew Morris, Ward Four Council Member, US Naval Academy Graduate and Marine! Those cadets who truly made a difference this year were recognized with one of 20 National Awards. A huge "SHOUT OUT" goes to those parents/guardians who provided desserts...the RAIDER Squadron has next level support! The final event of the night was a changing of the guard...Cadet Hernandez relinquishing command to Cadet Lucero. CONGRATUALTIONS Cadet Lucero on being named Corps Commander for 2026 - 2027!

News and EVENT'S Part 2

Over Spring Break, Senior AS-400 Cadets spent a day getting a tour of the Battle of Gettysburg in Gettysburg, PA and 5-days in Washington DC. Cadets visited all our Nations monuments and spent countless hours in the following museums: Holocaust, Spy, Air & Space, Natural History and Udvar-Hazy Aviation Museum. Cadets also received a Capital Tour from a member of Gabe Evan's staff (District 8 Representative). Finally, cadets visited Arlington National Cemetery and received a tour of the Pentagon.