AFJROTC Unit earns National Recognition and Cadets Celebrate at Annual Dinner, Awards Program

For the fourth time in their four year history JROTC was recognized by headquarters AFJROTC for earning the Distinguished Unit Award for being one of the top programs in the nation.

This year, due to their Exceeds Standards on their Headquarters Unit Evaluation, the organization received the coveted With Merit, the highest award a unit can get.

“I think all of us on the ROTC were happy to know that all of our hard work and love and dedication always pays off in the end,” Junior Jacob Ward said. “Dining out was so much fun, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say that.”

Only 82 of the 870 plus Air Force Junior ROTC Units worldwide received this recognition.

Over 270 cadets, parents, and guests from the JROTC program attended the fourth annual dining out and awards ceremony May 17 at the Hyatt Place in Garland.

Forty One individual and unit awards were received as cadets enjoyed a time honored tradition of a military dining out. They heard retired Marine Colonel Sam Nelson give a speech.

He challenged the cadets and guests to get motivated, get involved and strive to be the best and reach excellence in all their endeavors.

After a wonderful meal and the words of inspiration from Colonel Nelson, cadets were presented with national and local awards.

“Dining out was very professional, organized, and military-like,” Senior Cody Wilson said. “It was fun. I had a blast.”

Dozens of cadets earned numerous local awards, and the program, under the leadership of instructors Lt. Col. Wayne Wilbanks and Master Sergeant JJ Smith, earned its fourth Distinguished Unit Award from Headquarters Air Force JROTC.

Also, both instuctors earned the Outstanding Instructor Award from Headquarters Air Force JROTC.

Top local awards were given for Outstanding Cadets in each of the Aerospace Science Classes; winners were Aerospace Science I Cadet Ashley Henagin and Austin Byboth, Aerospace Science II Cadet Elisabeth Teitelman, Aerospace Science III Cadet Zachary Heuer and Aerospace Science IV Cadet Zachary Edington. Cadet Edington also received a $1000 scholarship from the Dallas Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. Cadet Zachary Heuer was presented the Distinguished Cadet Award for the top cadet in the Wylie East AFJROTC program. Delta Flight under the Command of Cadet Jared Swan was awarded the Flight of the Semester Award.

Twenty two National Awards were presented by representatives from local area military and civilian organizations.

The national awards and recipients given Saturday night were:

The Celebrate Freedom Foundation/Emery Riddle Aeronautical University JROTC Award—McKenna Ortega

The National Society United States Daughters of 1812 Award—Cadet Alexys Mahar

The Air Commando Association AFJROTC Award—Cadet Kyle Walls

The Retired Enlisted Association Award—Cadet Jacob Ward

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Award— Cadet April Jakaria

The Sons of the Confederate Veterans H.L. Hunley Award—Cadet Austin Byboth

The Tuskegee Airman Incorporation Award—Cadets Stevie Minich and Eric Sims

The Air Force Sergeants Association Award—Cadet Andrew Santiago

The Military Order of the Purple Heart Award—Cadet Caleb Brown

Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction Award—Cadet Kelsie Mathis

The Sons of the American Revolution Award—Cadet Justyn McKeel

National Sojourners Award—Cadet Elisabeth Teitelman

Veterans of Foreign Wars Award—Cadet Milagros Orduna

The Military Officers Association of America Award—Cadet Jared Swan

The Military Order of the World Wars Award—Cadet Garry Adams

The Reserve Officers Association Award—Cadets Abby Morris and Johnathan Smith

American Veterans Award—Cadet Ashley Henagin

The Daughters of the American Revolution Award—Cadet Megan Chapman

American Legion General Military Excellence Award—Cadets Kelsie Mathis and Cadet Christopher Dao

American Legion Scholastic Award—Cadets Alline Snow and Zachary Edington

The Daedalian Award—Cadet Mark Hosek

Air Force Association Award—Cadet Zachary Heuer

Several special awards were presented by our local Army National Guard and our Marine recruiter they were:

Army National Guard Warrior Award—Cadets Kedericka Givens and Justyn McKeel

Marines Athletic Excellence Award—Cadet Chase Thompson

Marines Scholastic Achievement Award—Cadet Kyle Walls

“I’m incredibly proud of the entire ROTC,” Ward said. “Everyone who received an award(s) earned it.”

Booster club president Sarah White thanked all the parents who have worked so hard to make this a successful year.

Booster club member Kim Dao awarded two cadets $1000 scholarships they were: Megan Chapman and Zachary Edington.

The senior class was recognized for their outstanding contributions in making TX-20093 an outstanding unit.

“The senior slide slow, awards, and grog bowl was all very fun. Without Colonel and Sergeant, it wouldn’t have been possible,” Wilson said.

Lt. Col. Wilbanks also thanked Clarizel Bernarte, Tori Edington, April Jakaria and all the cadets who worked on the event for their hard work planning the event.

The evening ended with a year in review video made by Cadet April Jakaria and the announcement that Cadet Zachary Heuer would be the Cadet Corps Commander next year.

“Our special thanks go out to the presenters and our guest speaker Colonel Nelson for making the night a very special one. In all several hundred ribbons, plaques, and medals were earned by the cadets who this year have traveled to the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, visited Joint Reserve Base in Ft. Worth, gone to and placed at four drill meets and put in over 5000 service hours to our community and many other events,” Lt. Col. Wilbanks said.