AAE SFJROTC

Unit CA-20068^

WHO ARE WE?

CA-20068^ is located at the Academy for Academic Excellence in Apple Valley, California. We pride ourselves on keeping true to the United States Space Force Guardian Commitment, known as the four C’s: CHARACTER... above all; CONNECTION... toward unity; COMMITMENT... to mastery and COURAGE... to be bold. Our cadet guardians display the four C's by having the highest moral standards of any students in the High Desert, performing our record high number of community service hours each year and executing our day to day operations at our school and within the community where we are requested to perform our color guards, drill performances, and community service. On 26 March 2021, AAE Space Force JROTC became one of the ten Space Force JROTC founding units, the only SFJROTC unit in California and the only Charter School Space Force JROTC unit in the world.

Get to Know Us

INSTRUCTORS

Senior Space Science Instructor

COLONEL (RET.) GEORGE ARMSTRONG "CUSTER"

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression" -Andrew Grant

After 27 years of distinguished service in the US Air Force, Colonel Armstrong retired and joined AAE as math department head and science teacher, and soon after, he became the AAE AFJROTC instructor. He was recognized in 2011 with the AFJROTC Instructor of The Year Award. Colonel Armstrong is the Senior Space Science Instructor of SFJROTC Unit CA-20068^.

MASTER SERGEANT (RET.) H "SONNY" PADUA

Space Science Instructor

"Don't wish for it, work for it" -Gareth Price

Master Sergeant Padua honorably served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as a Supply Management Craftsman for 14 years. The last 6 years of his Air Force career, he was the Superintendent for the Blue Eagles Honor Guard in Southern California. Master Sergeant Padua is now the Space Science Instructor for the Academy for Academic Excellence unit CA-20068^.