Unit GA-938, the Air Force Junior ROTC at Effingham County High  School, has been selected to receive the 2010-11 Air Force Junior ROTC Distinguished Unit Award, with Merit.

This award recognizes Air Force Junior ROTC 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 Junior ROTC mission of producing better citizens for America. It  recognizes the personal growth and accomplishments of the cadets, the contributions of the instructors as mentors of the cadets, and the support of the school and community. The Distinguished Unit Award is limited to the best of the best of the nation’s 884 Air Force Junior ROTC units worldwide.

Units can earn the award with Merit once every three years, and if an Excellent rating is awarded for inspection from the area administrator. This year the ECHS AFJROTC area administrator inspected the unit, and the unit earned the highest inspection rating possible, a rating of Excellent. Cadets at ECHS earned the inspection rating and award through the hard work and leadership of the two corps commanders, Cadet Colonels Chris Pierson and Matt Mizell.

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. Enrollment is open to all young people who are in the ninth grade or higher, physically fit, and are citizens or nationals of the U.S.

Air Force Junior ROTC is located in 884 high schools across the U.S. and at selected schools in Europe, in the Pacific and Puerto Rico. Junior ROTC enrollment includes more than 117,000 cadets. For more information contact the ECHS Air Force Junior ROTC department at 754-5514.