Dear Clover School District Family,

In the coming months, you will be facing many important decisions as your eighth grader prepares for high school. We are extremely excited to be offering our award-winning Air Force JROTC program at the Ninth Grade Academy and feel it could be an excellent complement to your child’s education. There are a few important points I feel that could be of interest to you and help you make the very best decision possible:

· If a student takes AFJROTC in high school, there is never any obligation to join the military. It’s important to know all JROTC programs are leadership development and citizenship programs.

· AFJROTC will not interfere with other extracurricular activities at Clover High School. Most activities are optional. We have many athletes, band members and Choraliers in the JROTC program.

· AFJROTC works to teach important leadership skills, develop critical thinking, and reinforce personal traits to help make your child successful in life, no matter what career path they choose.

· Approximately 50% of first-year cadets are female. The most important factor is a great attitude.

· AFJROTC is an alternative to PE. AFJROTC satisfies the SC PE credit requirement to graduate.

· AFJROTC is fully (AdvancED) academically accredited. World-class curriculum includes aviation ground school, principles of aircraft flight, aerodynamics, space programs, basic military drill, effective communication, management, teambuilding, various leadership philosophies and techniques.

· To reinforce what is learned in the classroom, cadets participate in many outside activities such as field trips to military bases, aerospace facilities/industries, museums, airports and military flights.

· Community service is a major part of the cadet experience and helps instill a sense of civic pride and citizenship. Clover cadets amassed 6,500+ community service hours in 2020 alone.

· Cadets participate in leadership labratory activities, marksmanship programs, marching competitions, color guards, formal military balls, obstacle courses, whitewater rafting and fitness competitions.

· With 350 cadets, Clover High School AFJROTC is the largest student organization in the high school. The program offers hands-on leadership opportunities you cannot get anywhere else in high school.

· High-achieving cadets are eligible to attend a week-long summer leadership camp at the Citadel.

· Clover JROTC instructors have amassed 95+ yrs of leadership, military, and aviation experience.

· For the past 17 years, our unit has earned the TOP rating by HQ Air Force--a Distinguished Unit!

· In 2015, our instructors were named Outstanding Instructors of the Year with Major Batson being named “Best in the Nation”—#1 of nearly 2,000 instructors and 900+ units nation-wide.

o Major Batson was also named Clover High School “Teacher of the Year” in 2019.

· Clover cadets have earned $8.5M+ dollars in college scholarships (43) in the past 6 yrs and have earned prestigious appointments to the Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, West Point and the Merchant Marine Academy.

· 51 cadets have earned full $20K private pilot scholarships over the past 4 years, enabling them to attend flight school with a partnering university over the summer and earn their license at no cost.

Thank you for considering JROTC and your potential partnership in working towards our goal to develop citizens of character. If you would like additional info, please feel free to email or call.

BRIAN K. BATSON, Major, USAF (Ret)
Senior Aerospace Science Instructor

brian.batson@clover.k12.sc.us

803.810.8978