1. CADET UNIT AND FLIGHT GOALS
8. Formulation of Cadet Unit and Flight Goals. Goals will be cadet-inspired and implemented, not instructor-inspired/implemented.
8.1 Unit goals are divided into three broad categories: two goals are related
to the cadet corps, two are related to the school and two are related to the
local community. One the two cadet goals will be related to academic
excellence within the cadet corps. One of the two school goals will address
recruiting and retention of cadets in the unit. One of the two community
goals will be oriented to providing service and getting cadets involved in
service related programs. The Cadet Group Commander and Cadet Deputy
Group Commander are responsible for reviewing and finalizing the unit goals
and submitting them or updating them into WINGS within the first two weeks
of each semester.
8.2 Flight goals will be finalized within two weeks after the unit goals are
established. The Cadet Flight Commander and Cadet Flight Sergeant for each
flight are responsible for finalizing the flight goals. Flight goals will be
linked to the unit goals.
8.3. Suggested Goal Setting Process.
Cadet leadership will take the lead in goal formulation and writing,
however, the more cadets that are involved in goal formulation the
better. It is called “buy in.” Leadership should start out the process by
possibly teaching a leadership education lesson on the importance of
goal setting and its use to the cadet corps. Get input on what goals will
be most beneficial, using a brainstorming session to get those ideas.
Ask some leading questions to get them thinking like:
“What is our greatest challenge in our cadet corps?”
“How can the corps truly make a difference in our school?”
“What could we do to help make things better in our community?”
“What would you like to see us doing that you’ve seen in other
JROTCs or school programs?”
Once your ideas are collected from all your classes, cadet
leadership will need to group the ideas. Categorize each idea as to which
of the major categories it supports (cadet, school, community).
Prepare a ballot for the cadet corps to get their opinion on which
goals are going to be the best for the upcoming year. This should be
given out to all the cadets in the classes and to all the cadets on reserve
status. Leadership will review the ballots and select the highest ranked
idea in each of the categories (cadet, school, and community).

2. 8. 3. 4. Now it’s time for the cadet leaders to write their goals
Now it’s time for the cadet leaders to write their goals. Written goals need
to have several essential (SMART) components. Make your goal Specific,not
written in general terms. What exactly do you want to accomplish? Make your
written goal Measurable. You need a way to qualitatively evaluate your goal
accomplishment. Your goal must require Action on the part of corps members.
It should not be something that will happen as a result of some outside-the-
unit or school administration action. The goal should be Realistic. Is it within
the ability of the cadet corps to reach? Does the corps have the ability to
control the outcome or is this something imposed from outside the
organization? Finally, the goal has a Time constraint. When do we hope to
complete the goal? Ideally, all unit goals should be able to be completed by
10 April of the school year.
After the cadet leadership writes their goals, they will review the goals
with the cadets within the unit or flight, so that they can help edit them or ask
questions that would clarify what is to be accomplished. Once the unit goals
are finalized, the Cadet Group Commander and Cadet Deputy Group
Commander will enter them into WINGS, under SASI/ASI oversight, by 10
October of the school year, as well as post them to the classroom bulletin
board. Flight goals must be finalized by 30 September (1st semester) and by
17 February (2nd Semester); the Cadet Flight commander and Cadet Flight
Sergeant will ensure goals are posted on the classroom bulletin board.
Timelines will be developed for each unit and flight goal by the
commander responsible for the goal. Commanders are encouraged to talk with
the SASI/ASI on suggested timeline goal templates that can be used to meet the
cadet’s management style. Important items that should be reflected in the
timeline are desired results, date to be completed, actions to take, cadets
responsible and resources needed. Timelines will be maintained in a unit or
flight folder, will be monitored on a weekly basis, and updated as necessary.
Cadet flight commanders will brief their respective flights on flight goal
progress at least once a week. The Cadet Group Commander and/or Cadet
Deputy Group Commander will brief the unit at least once every two weeks.
Once a flight or unit goal is completed, celebrate the accomplishment!
This can be done through recognition, website announcement, or any other
creative means approved by the SASI/ASI. Once a unit goal is accomplished,
the Cadet Group Commander and Cadet Deputy Group Commander will
complete the WINGS entry reflecting completion, with SASI/ASI oversight. By 10
April of each school year, the Cadet Group Commander and Cadet Deputy
Group Commander are required to complete unit goal accomplishment in WINGS
for all unit goals.