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Air Force Junior ROTC unit FL-938 was established at Andrew Jackson High School in 1993 and is the only Air Force military magnet program in the US. Our magnet attracts diverse students, forging them together to build better citizens for America. The unit’s motto is “Home of the Flying Tigers”.
Flying Tigers was the nickname of the 1st American Volunteer Group (which later became the 23rd Fighter Group) that operated within the Chinese Air Force before American entry into WW II. As a tribute to these American heroes, our cadet corps wears the group’s patch. Our corps, under the direction of Air Force retiree Major Trent Johnson, consists of 100 cadets commanded by Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Anysha Evans. However, the oldest and most famous FL-938 member was original Tuskegee Airman, MSgt (ret) William Stockton Surcey, for whom the unit’s Kitty Hawk Academic Honor Society is named in honor of.
In its brief but impressive 28-year history, the Flying Tigers Drill Team has been on a meteoric rise, winning trophies at numerous drill meets. Blazing a path for others to follow, our 2017 1st-Year Cadet Drill Team placed First in their first-ever drill competition. And just like the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, whom the Flying Tigers have performed for, our cadets have been globe-trotting themselves while performing curriculum-in-action trips to: Cape Canaveral and St Augustine in Florida; The Citadel and Charleston AFB in South Carolina; Travis AFB, CA; Seattle and Whidbey Island Naval Station in Washington; and military installations in Hawaii. Even a global pandemic couldn’t stop our Flying Lady Tigers Drill Team from being the only team selected to represent Florida in the 2021 Presidential Inauguration and Memorial Day parades.
In this era of change and Flying Tigers’ spirit of yesteryear, our magnet program is transforming into a military science and aviation career academy. This metamorphosis will change our program trajectory and cadets’ military and civilian aerospace careers glide path while maintaining its prime directive to Build Better Citizens for America.
Citizenship, leadership, character and community service are the core tenets of our high school Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs.
