Cadet Awards and Decorations Program

1. CADET AWARDS 7. Cadet Awards. The Cadet Awards and Decorations program is designed to promote morale, incentive and esprit de corps by recognizing cadets for their contributions to the unit, the school and the community. In this chapter is an explanation of locally-developed awards that can be earned by all cadets. 7.1. Flight of the Month. Flight competition encourages teamwork and rewards team excellence; therefore, flights will compete for the Flight of the Month Award. Beginning the first day through the last day for each month, flights will be assessed in 5 areas; the flight with the highest points received for that month will be awarded a streamer for their guidon and a flight prize determined by the SASI/ASI. The areas for competition and their values toward the award are as follows: Areas of Competition Percentage - Academics 25% (Based on grades in aerospace science and leadership education) - Uniform Inspections 25% (Based on the weekly individual uniform inspections ) - Drill Tests 20% (Based on monthly drill tests) - Flight Goal Achievement 15% (Based on a point paper provided by the Flight Commander to the Squadron Operations Commander every two weeks on goal progress) - Extracurricular Activities 15% (Based on the percentage of cadets in a flight at each AFJROTC extracurricular activity) 7.2 Cadet of the Month Award. In order to encourage individual accomplishment and academic success, a Cadet of the Month program has been implemented to recognize one cadet from each flight for each month. Each cadet will be judged on a weighted scale split into the following two categories: Academics at 40% and Uniform Inspections at 60%. The designated Cadet of the Month will be recognized at the beginning of the following month with a certificate, a picture posted in the classroom and other recognition at the SASI/ASI’s discretion. 7.3 Ace of Aces Award. This award will recognize one cadet each semester at the Semester Awards ceremony who achieved the most 100% test grades beginning the first day through the week before the semester awards. 7.4. Silver Award. This award, selected by the SASI, recognizes one cadet for the entire year who epitomizes the AF and AFJROTC core values demonstrating exceptional involvement in the school and local community, as well as uniform wear, positive attitude, and professionalism.

2. AFJROTC Awards Distinguished Unit: Awarded to cadets enrolled during the academic year when a unit is selected by HQ AFJROTC to receive the Distinguished Unit Award. Outstanding Organization Award: Awarded to cadets enrolled during the academic year when a unit is selected by HQ AFJROTC to receive the Outstanding Organization Award. Outstanding Flight Ribbon: Awarded each academic term to members of the outstanding flight under criteria determined by the SASI. Top Performer Award: Presented to maximum of 2% of current unit cadet corps population (unduplicated headcount), recognizing a cadet’s performance in leadership, job performance, academic performance, self-improvement, community involvement. SASI may select recipients and present award in years that unit does not receive a Headquarters visit. Outstanding Cadet: Awarded annually to one cadet from each AS class. Must be of high moral character, display outstanding military potential and attain academic and military excellence. Leadership: Awarded at SASI discretion for outstanding performance in a position of leadership as a cadet in corps training activities. Achievement: Awarded at SASI discretion for significant achievement as deemed appropriate. Superior Performance: Awarded at SASI discretion for outstanding achievement or meritorious service rendered specifically on behalf of AFJROTC. Academic: Must have achieved an overall GPA of “B” or higher for the semester., in addition to an “A” average for AFJROTC. Leadership School: Awarded for completion of an approved leadership school program of at least 5 days duration. Add a silver star for outstanding performance or leadership ability at a Leadership School. This ribbon may only be earned once. Special Teams Competition Ribbon. Awarded to team members for placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd in an Air Force or Joint Service Competition to include Color Guard Teams, Drill Teams, Academic Bowl Teams. Cocurricular Activities Leadership: Awarded for leadership in AFJROTC cocurricular activities (such as military ball chairperson). Must have demonstrated exceptional leadership in achieving objectives through the coordinated efforts of others. This ribbon may be earned a maximum of four times. Drill Team: Successfully completed the armed and unarmed drill sequence and demonstrate active participation in the drill team by attending at least one drill competition and attend at least 75% of all drill practices per semester. Color Guard: Successfully completed the color guard sequence and demonstrate active participation in the color guard by participating in at least 10 color guard events.

3. Saber Team: Successfully completed the saber team training and participated in three saber team activities. Can only be awarded once per year. Good Conduct: Awarded to cadets with no after school, in-school or out-of-school suspensions of any kind and no adverse reports from other staff or faculty in an academic term. Service: Awarded for performance in school, community or AFJROTC service projects. Participation in Drill Team/Color Guard does not qualify for the service ribbon. The hour qualifications are 75 hours for initial ribbon and for each oak leaf cluster. Health and Wellness Ribbon: Awarded for sustained participation and successful completion of the JROTC Physical Fitness Program,. All cadets who participate in the Presidential Physical Fitness Program and score in the 75-84 percentile will receive a second ribbon with the Bronze Star device. If a cadet earns a percentile score of 85-95 they will receive a second ribbon with the Silver Star device. If they receive a 96-100 percent they will receive a second ribbon with the Gold Star device. Recruiting: Awarded for effort in support of unit recruiting activities, through the recruitment of at least two students who enroll and attend the following semester or through attendance and participation in 3 recruitment events for that year. Cadets should submit names to the ASI of any students they potentially recruit; once a recruit cadet enrolls, the cadet recruiter’s name will be entered into WINGS. Activities: Awarded to cadets who participate in three AFJROTC cocurricular activities, other than color guard, drill team and recruitment events, as determined by the SASI/ASI. A listing of activities is posted within the classroom and on the school JROTC website. Attendance: Awarded to cadets with no more than three absences in an academic term. Dress and Appearance: Awarded for wearing the AFJROTC uniform on all designated uniform days and conforming to all AFJROTC dress and appearance standards, with an average uniform score of 90% or higher. Longevity: Awarded for completion of each AS year and recommended by SASI/ASI to return following year. Special Awards Community Service with Excellence Award: Recognizes cadets who provide significant leadership in the planning, organizing, directing and executing of a major unit community service project that greatly benefits the local community. This is not an award given to participants but to the key leaders of the project.

4. National Awards Air Force Association: Presented annually to third year cadet. Must possess positive attitude, outstanding personal appearance, rank in the top 5% of their AS class, rank in the top 10% of their academic class, be recommended by the SASI for the Outstanding Cadet Ribbon. Daedalian: Presented annually to one third-year cadet. Must indicate the potential and desire to pursue a military career, rank in the top 10% of their AS class and rank in the top 20% of their school class. American Legion Scholastic: Presented annually to a third- or fourth-year cadet. Must demonstrate qualities by actively participating in student activities, rank in the top 10% of their high school class and top 25% of their AS class. American Legion General Military Excellence: Presented annually to a third- or fourth-year cadet. Must rank in the top 25 % of their AS class and demonstrate outstanding qualities in military leadership, discipline and character. Daughters of the American Revolution: Presented annually to a fourth-year cadet. Must rank in the top 25% of their AS class, rank in the top 25% of their high school class, demonstrate qualities of dependability and good character and possess leadership ability. American Veterans: Presented annually to one qualified cadet. Must obtain a grade of “A” in their AS class, be in good scholastic standing in all classes, be officer potential and have a positive attitude toward the JROTC program. Reserve Officers Association: Presented annually to a fourth-year cadet. Must rank in the top 10% of their AS class, possess a positive attitude toward the AS curriculum and demonstrate highest personal and ethical standards. Military Order of World Wars: Presented annually to cadet committed to continue the aerospace science program the following year. Selection is based on outstanding accomplishments or service to the AFJROTC unit. Military Officers Association of America: Presented annually to third-year cadet. Must be in good academic standing, show a high order of loyalty to the unit, school and country as well as show exceptional potential for military leadership. Veterans of Foreign Wars: Presented annually to a third- or fourth-year cadet. Must attain a grade of “B” in AFJROTC with an overall GPA of “C”, be active in student activities, demonstrating leadership potential and having a positive attitude toward AFJROTC. National Sojourners: Presented annually to a second- or third-year cadet. Must be in the top 25% of their academic class, encourage and demonstrate ideals of Americanism and demonstrate potential for outstanding leadership.

5. Sons of the American Revolution: Presented annually to a third-year cadet. Must be in the top 10% of their JROTC class, rank in top 25% in their overall class and exhibit a high degree of leadership and military bearing. Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction: Presented annually to third-year cadet. Must encourage Americanism by participation in extracurricular activities or community projects and be in the top 25% of their class. Military Order of the Purple Heart: Presented annually to third- or fourth-year cadet. Must attain a GPA of “B”, be active in school and community affairs and hold a leadership position in the cadet corps. Air Force Sergeants Association: Presented annually to third- or fourth-year cadet. Must demonstrate outstanding qualities in military leadership and discipline and be in the top 25% of their JROTC class. Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War: Presented annually to one cadet. Must display a high degree of patriotism and demonstrate a high degree of academic excellence and leadership ability. Sons of the Confederate Veterans Award: Presented to a rising second year cadet who demonstrated the qualities of honor, courage and commitment to the unit throughout the school year. Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated AFJROTC: Presented annually to two cadets. Must attain a grade of “B” or better in their AS class, be in good academic standing and participate in at least 50% of all cadet corps activities. The Retired Enlisted Association Award: Awarded annually for exceptional leadership to the most outstanding AFJROTC cadet while serving in an Enlisted rank, demonstrating outstanding leadership throughout the year. Celebrate Freedom Foundation Award: Awarded annually for outstanding performance in academics and cadets corps activities as a first or second year cadet. National Society US Daughters 1812 Award: Awarded annually to a deserving cadet for academic excellence, leadership, discipline, dependability, patriotism and upright character in speech and habits. Air Commando Association Award: Awarded annually to a deserving cadet for demonstrating the attributes of success, to include integrity, self-motivation, self-discipline, perseverance, judgment, leadership and selflessness.