Confidence soars for AFJROTC cadets after joining focus program community

September 17, 2025

Lincoln Public Schools students like Madicyn, Camden and Gabrielle are watching their futures take flight through a focus program that provides confidence, camaraderie and community.
 
The three cadets are members of the Lincoln Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) unit. High school students from multiple LPS buildings come to Northeast High School each day for classes and activities. In addition to their AFJROTC courses, cadets also complete community service projects, learn leadership skills and participate in activities like drill team, color guard, flag detail, archery and model rocketry.
 
Madicyn is in her second year with the focus program. A sophomore at Northeast, she joined because she wanted to expand her leadership abilities. She has earned a spot as a physical training leader (PTL) and uses her organizational and communication gifts to help others.
 
“My leadership skills have definitely gotten a lot better,” Madicyn said. “I’ve learned how to work with teams more, and I’ve gotten a lot better at presentations. I used to be scared to talk in front of people, but now I’m not.”

 
Camden, a junior at Northeast, also displays his management talents in AFJROTC activities. He oversees all of his classmates as the air group commander. He is responsible for each of the five squadrons – internal relations, operations, information management, recruitment and public affairs – and works with fellow cadets on many outreach and community service projects.
 
Instructors and classmates showed their belief in Camden last year when he earned the title of deputy group commander. He said it was both encouraging and motivating to know that other people supported him in the focus program.
 
“I took that as there’s something that the sergeant sees in me, so then I was like, ‘I want to prove that there’s something to see,’” Camden said. “When you feel that other people are looking at you, you want to do more. It gives you that little bit of self-confidence.”

 
Retired Master Sergeant Justin Twilley joined LPS as the unit’s aerospace science instructor this summer after serving in the Air Force for the past 20 years. The Kansas City, Mo., native took AFJROTC classes in high school and said the program steered his life in a positive direction.
 
Twilley said his top goal is to help current students follow their own bright post-graduate paths. Cadets enroll in colleges and universities, attend trade schools, enter the workforce or enlist in military branches after completing the program.
 
“It helped me find what path I wanted to be on,” Twilley said. “If I can help one person make that same kind of decision, to find the right way forward for themselves, then it’s a win.”
 
Twilley said AFJROTC has become a more dynamic program since his school days. The curriculum has branched out from its core topics of aviation science, space exploration and military history. Today’s students also learn about basic survival skills such as identifying edible plants, attend leadership development seminars and talk about life topics such as budgeting and finance.
 
“It’s evolved a lot, and it’s really built for the student self-confidence aspect of the program,” Twilley said. “We talk about a lot of life skills that might be missed out elsewhere. It’s all about what comes next in their lives, and I really like that.”

 
The enhanced curriculum also gives cadets like Gabrielle a chance to learn about traits such as accountability and cooperation. All students handle assignments such as maintaining historical records, organizing school events and managing group projects. They can rise to leadership positions by displaying initiative, teamwork and responsibility throughout the school year.
 
Gabrielle, who is in her third year with the program, said those personal skills have benefited her in many ways. She said it is uplifting to know that her peers hold her to a high standard in class.
 
“I joined freshman year, and I definitely do better in school and have a lot more friends now,” Gabrielle said. “I’m just more involved in things ever since I joined.”

 
Twilley said the blended classroom approach of Northeast’s unit strengthens this sense of unity. All four grade levels take courses together, which gives more experienced students a chance to sharpen their mentorship talents. It also provides newer cadets with role models to watch from the first day they step into the AFJROTC classroom.
 
“Many high schools with a program break the program up to first years, second years, etc., but I personally feel like this takes away from an amazing opportunity for the cadets to coach, mentor and learn from each other and engage in small-team leadership locally,” Twilley said.
 
Madicyn is taking advantage of those mentorship opportunities through her PTL role. She arranges schedules for the group’s physical training activities that happen every Friday. Her assignment has helped her meet people from across the school district and learn about both management and organization.
 
Madicyn said she is looking forward to her remaining time with the program. She felt the LPS experience would help her launch into a bright career path.
 
“I think it’ll definitely prepare me for the future, because I know how to handle challenges better now,” Madicyn said. “It’s boosting my leadership skills and is helping me to help other people with their challenges too.”
 
Ready to choose your journey with the Lincoln AFJROTC program? Explore its website at afjrotc.lps.org to learn more. 
 
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