Orienteering (Trail Blazing)
Description:
Orienteering is a fast-paced treasure hunt in the woods!
The sport involves navigating between checkpoints, called “controls,” in unfamiliar terrain using a map and compass.
The route between controls is not marked, so participants must decide the best way to go.
Cadets completing all checkpoints in the fastest time win.
Orienteering is a vital aspect of Air Force Junior ROTC’s comprehensive leadership development program (LDR). By navigating challenging terrain under the pressure of competition, these high school Cadets learn to solve problems, overcome personal discomfort, and develop discipline to achieve personal and team goals.
“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkein
2025 - 2026 Team Leaders.
Orienteering Commander: C/SSgt Kinney
Orienteering Vice Commander: C/MSgt Felipe
Season (4 Competitions):
Orienteering begins with a single meet in late fall, then moves into the main season with one AFJROTC‑sponsored competition each month from January through March. The season wraps up in early April following nationals. We meet on select Fridays, & Trailblazers voluntarily attend additional weekend meets beyond the official AFJROTC events to gain more experience & time on course.
AFJROTC (Unit) SponsoredEvents/Competition Schedule:
9 February: Red Top Mountain State Park | Ackworth, GA
1 March: Sweetwater Creek State Park | Lithia Springs, GA
11-12 April: Air Force Service National Championships | Hueston Woods State Park, OH
Junior Nationals and Flying Pig XXVIII Event Recap: Click Here
Cadets compete alone, as individuals, in the event. To complete a course, they must navigate to, and “punch in” at, all the controls on that course, in the correct order, and return to the finish. Their net course time is calculated electronically, and finishers are ranked in order from fastest to slowest completion time. Individual runner medals are usually presented to the top 3-5 finishers (depending on event size), male and female, at each difficulty level.
Cadets should wear old clothes and running shoes and be prepared to get their feet wet and muddy. Each cadet at our orienteering events must have their own compass, safety whistle, and water supply. Learning the control description reference sheet is very important before your first race: Click Here.
Cadet De Freitas, Cadet Felipe, Cadet McIntyre, Cadet Kinney, and Cadet Gilhotra make history by competing in GA-052’s first Orienteering Nationals.
Trailblazers: GA-052 Cadets Make History at Their First AFJROTC Orienteering Competition — Red Top Mountain State Park, 8 February 2026
GA-052 has the #1 ranked female AFJROTC (JV) Orienteer in the nation: Cadet Kinney
A feature of our JROTC orienteering events is that Cadets are encouraged to download an app called "Livelox Recorder" to their smartphones. While on the course, the app will record the cadet's course track, displaying each cadet's movement. The data is transmitted via their smartphone to the Internet, onto a large-screen monitor at the event's finish area or to a home computer. Besides being a helpful safety feature, Livelox helps orienteers who have finished their courses track their competitors' performance.
- Record Your GPS Track With The Livelox Mobile App
GA-052 Trailblazers place 3rd in the Nation at the AFJROTC (JV) Nationals, Brookville, Indiana on 11-12 April 2026.
Orienteers “Trailblazers” finishing strong at the Sweetwater Creek State Park on 1 March 2026. Orienteering is like cross country running mixed with hiking, all the while having to finish a crossword puzzle.
GA-052 has the #3 ranked female and male AFJROTC (JV) Orienteers in the nation: Cadet De Freitas & Cadet Gilhotra