Good Morning/afternoon. I hope this is the right place to post this.
Recently I along my schools Air Force JROTC unit located in Belleview Florida FL-20022 has started a robotics program. With Vex V5 kits (currently have 5 kits) and we want to get the program running this year, it’s going to be our first year so can anyone give me some information about how competitions work, if there’s any competitions located central Florida around January - February of 2026, Instructional manuals, costs, different types of challenges and robots that we can build and where to find them? And any extra information you think would help us start our robotics team program for the first time in FL-20022 history. This is a huge step we’re looking to take and am very excited to have the opportunity to be the first commander so any details and feedback and support will be truly appreciated all across, thank you!
-Emmanuel Gomez
BHS AFJROTC Robotics Team Commander
FL-20022
You’re going to want to reach out to your RECF RSM (Regional Support Manager), here. Their entire job is supporting teams and helping new teams like yours find their footing. The RECF calls them a “Team’s Best Friend”, and its certainly appropo. You can find your local RECF RSM here:
Being a JROTC team, you also have RECF staff that work directly with JROTC teams that can assist as well. When you reach out to your RSM, ask that they include Dylon Caudill, Chris Stewart, and/or John Queen on the email as well. I’ve forwarded this thread off to those folks as well, so you might see a reply from one of them pop up here.
There’s a whole plethora of threads with some good advice on this site for new teams as well. Feel free to search here, as well as look through the RECF and VEX Libraries for helpful tips.
Bailey is 100% correct. Your local RSM is always the best person to reach out to. With JROTC specific questions you can also reach out to [email protected] this email address goes to all of us that work specifically with JROTC teams, and their specific needs. Please reach out, we would love to get you up and running for the upcoming 25-26 season. Thanks
Hello Cadet Gomez, it’s nice to see other JROTC teams on the forum! If any tips, Id say to not give up and to stay ambitious in all aspects which include building, coding, notebooking, cadding/designing, and more. Good luck!