MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Alabama –
Headquarters Air Force Junior ROTC announced the winners of its J-100 “Character-in-Leadership” Scholarship Program, providing recipients four years of 100% paid tuition at any university with an Air Force ROTC detachment. This is the fourth year of the program, which continues to make attending college a reality for selected cadets in the Department of the Air Force’s high school citizenship development program.
J-100 is a High School Scholarship Program Type 1 scholarship that includes a $10,000 per-year allowance for housing, an annual book stipend, and a monthly cadet stipend for cadets who will compete for a commission in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force. There are no specific degree requirements for the J-100 program, and selected cadets can use the scholarship at any university or crosstown partner with an AFROTC program to which they gain admission.
During this year’s program, AFJROTC received 513 nominations, the highest in the program’s four-year history. All eligible applicants met a quantitative board based on weighted score portions of the application. Finally, in January, a board comprised of Air Force civilians, officers, and senior non-commissioned officers interviewed the top 210 candidates and selected 100 cadets for the prestigious scholarship.
This year’s board was extremely competitive. The selected cadets earned an average GPA of 3.85, an average ACT score of 28, and an average SAT of 1320. For the first time in the scholarship program’s history, applicants were administered the Air Force Physical Fitness Assessment, and the selects averaged a score of 90%.
However, what distinguishes the J-100 program is the board interview process that focuses on the applicant’s character, leadership, and citizenship. During the interview, applicants are asked to discuss their views on multiple topics such as core values, how they approach problem-solving, what life obstacles they have overcome, and how they resolve conflict. Their responses allow the board to assess critical thinking and communication skills, along with confidence, character, and candor.
With more than 80,000 AFJROTC cadets currently enrolled at more than 800 programs worldwide, these 100 cadets truly represent the best of the best. The selected cadets come from AFJROTC programs in 31 different U.S. states and territories and 6 countries.
When asked what the program means to cadets and their families, the J-100 Program Manager, Esteban Martinez, stated simply, “I think I can sum it up in one word: opportunity. Some of these kids, when you really dig into their life experience, kind of why they're in Junior ROTC, [they] let you know that they're struggling every single day. And Junior ROTC is that one positive thing in their life.”
Martinez indicated how impressed the new board members were with the applicants’ maturity, telling him, “You're listening to a young man or woman who you could put butter bars (2nd Lieutenant) on today, and you're thinking man, I'm listening to a lieutenant briefing at a Wing staff meeting.”
Some of the interviewed cadets indicated that they would be the first member of their family to have the opportunity to attend college. During the interview, when asked about what life challenges they’ve had to overcome, some cadets indicated they’ve experienced homelessness, abuse, loss of a parent or caregiver, parental incarceration, etc. For some, this scholarship may be their only opportunity to attend college. The J-100 program continues to change lives and provide opportunities to the next generation of military leaders who are poised to tackle the challenges of the future.
“The J-100 program is remarkable, as it allows us to not simply focus on academics but allows us to select cadets that have the exceptional character and leadership traits we need to shape the Air Force and Space Force of the future,” said Ben Caro, Chief of the Development Division at HQ AFJROTC. “There are numerous high school students who aspire to pursue higher education, and some are hindered by financial constraints. The J-100 Scholarship paves the way for AFJROTC cadets from all walks of life to pursue their educational future and embark on a promising course towards a fulfilling military career.”
VIEW THE LIST OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS AND ALTERNATES