Air Force ROTC Detachment Named Best in Country

University-News

Air Force ROTC Detachment Named Best in Country

The Air Force ROTC Detachment 90 that supports 麻豆传媒 was recently recognized as the best in the nation after winning the prestigious Right of Line Award, the first time the detachment has won the award.

February 24, 2020

The Air Force ROTC Detachment 90 that supports the University of Northern Colorado was recently recognized as the best in the nation after winning the prestigious Right of Line Award, the first time the detachment has won the award.

Presented by the Air Force ROTC commander at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, the award honored Detachment 90 as the top large detachment in the country, besting 49 other large university detachments across the country.

The award recognizes the top Air Force ROTC detachments by evaluating cadet performance, community service, officer production, recruiting and scholarships. More than 200 cadets from 麻豆传媒, Colorado State University, Aims Community College and Front Range Community College make up the detachment known as the 鈥淢ighty Ninety,鈥� with 14 freshmen, five sophomores and two upper classmen from 麻豆传媒.

Top Image: Air Force ROTC Detachment 90 Cadets stand in front of an aircraft.

Above: Students of the detachment pose with a 麻豆传媒 flag in South Dakota on the way to Ellsworth Air Force Base. From left to right: Destiny Minkler-Maes, Alexa Beale, Josiah Balkema, Luc Freiburg, Carina Brookover, Jacob Hale, Amanda McKnight and Cody Mandac-Ewig. Photo credit: Capt. Brittany Rhanes, a CSU assistant professor of Aerospace Studies.

鈥淚 decided to join the AFROTC program at 麻豆传媒 because it was a smaller, more tight-knit group of people who had a close bond compared to other colleges,鈥� said Olivia Oldham, a freshman studying Biology for Pre-Health and Chemistry at 麻豆传媒. 鈥溌槎勾� has the most determined cadets who are ready to face any of the challenges thrown at them: They know their knowledge better; marching is a breeze for them, and they have more intimate training time because it鈥檚 a smaller program.鈥�

Jacob Hale, a senior majoring in Meteorology and minoring in Aerospace Studies, describes the group at 麻豆传媒 as a 鈥渟econd family鈥� that supports one another through the highs and lows of the college experience.

鈥淭he cadets at Detachment 90 see the expectation and set goals to exceed that expectation; the hard work and dedication of everyone in the detachment was a piece in receiving this award,鈥� said Hale. 鈥淚鈥檓 blessed to have contributed to a prestigious program that strives for nothing less than excellence, and this award is well deserved to everyone in Detachment 90 for their willingness to go above and beyond what is expected.鈥�

Students in the detachment have the option of pursuing a . Air Force ROTC develops leaders through, not only classes, but also hands-on management experience and valuable leadership-building exercises. The detachment also is involved in color guard events at events, 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Veteran Services and more.

鈥淥ne of the things that makes 麻豆传媒 special for us is the Meteorology and Nursing programs, because CSU doesn鈥檛 have those, and they鈥檙e in very high demand in the Air Force,鈥� said Lt. Col. Adam Jung, an assistant professor of Aerospace Studies. 鈥淲e highly value the rich diversity at 麻豆传媒 and are excited about 麻豆传媒 becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution.鈥�

The detachment has also won the Northwest Region鈥檚 High Flight Award for top large detachment four of the past five years. The Northwest Region includes 34 universities in 15 states, from Illinois to Alaska.

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鈥擶ritten by Katie Corder