JROTC CADETS EXCEL IN ROBOTICS
PLTW & RECF: POWERING THE FUTURE OF ENGINEERING AND ROBOTICS EDUCATION
During the 2024-2025 season, all four Steinbrenner JROTC teams qualified for the National Championship, and the students found success beyond robotics. Members have earned prestigious scholarships and are pursuing fields such as aerospace engineering, intelligence and security systems, mechanical engineering, and nuclear engineering. Their coach, Sergeant Notto, reflects proudly on the growth of the program he once felt unsure about, hoping more schools will adopt JROTC robotics so future cadets can experience the same transformative opportunities. Some of these teams get on their forums, and they’ll talk to each other about problem-solving and strategies. I attribute that communication to being why my teams have been successful. It’s the cooperation from traditional high school teams being able to give advice, and then we pass that on to the JROTC teams to help them.
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) and the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) have partnered to strengthen engineering and robotics education by aligning PLTW’s curriculum with RECF’s industry-recognized certifications (IRCs). This collaboration helps students build a strong foundation for Pre-Engineering and Robotics credentials, while PLTW provides guidance to close remaining curriculum gaps and ensure students are well-prepared for certification exams. Developed by engineers, educators, and industry experts, RECF’s certifications span specialties including Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Science, and Robotics. Schools in states where the certifications are approved are often eligible for CTE/Perkins funding. RECF certifications combined with additional preparation through science courses, CTE programs, and robotics competitions can further strengthen student readiness and prepare them for today’s tech workforce. This partnership represents a major step in preparing the next generation of STEM professionals by combining PLTW’s proven curriculum with RECF’s rigorous, industry-backed credentials. Together, the organizations are expanding opportunities for students to gain meaningful skills, real-world experience, and a competitive edge as they pursue careers in engineering and robotics.
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The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation offers the VEX V5 Robotics Competition to JROTC programs across all U.S. service branches, giving cadets a hands-on way to apply their leadership training through robot design, programming, and competition. At Steinbrenner High School in Tampa, Team 11981A “Apollo” shared how robotics has strengthened their problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience. In their first season, the students struggled with a basic robot and consistent last-place finishes, but they credit JROTC principles—especially learning from failure—with helping them grow into stronger competitors and leaders.
Through perseverance and clearly defined roles, the team transformed, ultimately winning the National Championship as sophomores. Each student contributes unique strengths, from programming to strategy to documentation, creating a well-balanced, collaborative unit. Their coach emphasizes leadership development, accountability, and extensive practice—often 10–12 hours a week—as the foundation of their success. He also highlights the supportive robotics community, where teams share ideas and solve challenges together, strengthening both JROTC and traditional high school programs.
Discover the inside story of a JROTC robotics team that went from last place to national champions—read the full journey here!
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