photo by Stefan Rogenmoser

Ashley Ridge High School JROTC instructor Maj. Bill Clark speaks at Monday’s school board meeting as his school’s unit is honored by the board.

The Air Force JROTC unit at Ashley Ridge High School in Dorchester School District 2 has been selected as one of 230 units to receive the 2009-2010 Air Force Junior ROTC Distinguished Unit Award. This award recognizes Air Force JROTC units that have performed above and beyond normal expectations, and that have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to their school and community while meeting the Air Force JROTC mission of producing better citizens for America.  

In the second year of the program, 161 cadets accomplished over 800 service hours to the community and school district. In addition, cadets are involved in the Kitty Hawk Honor Society, the Drill Team and Color Guard, the Academic team, the Cyber Simulation Team, and the Orienteering Team. The Drill Team and Color Guard were awarded over 30 trophies in various drill competitions. Cadets are highly involved in the leadership and management of the cadet corps learning leadership skills that many students do not learn until later on in life. Cadets are learning life skills that will help them after high school from learning to fly unmanned aircraft using aerospace principals, how to apply for college and get financial aid to learning how to balance an checkbook. This is in addition to the rigorous Aerospace and leadership curriculum all cadets must take each year.

The objectives of the Junior ROTC program are to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship and life skills; promote community service; instill responsibility, character, and self-discipline through character education, and to provide instruction in air and space fundamentals.

Air Force Junior ROTC is located in 884 high schools across the United States and at selected schools in Europe, in the Pacific and Puerto Rico.  JROTC enrollment includes more than 110,000 cadets.

Receiving the Distinguished 2009-2010 Unit Award is Cadet Group Commander Lt. Col Stephanie Shaw and Cadet Deputy Group Commander Kevin Sosnowski.

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