Cherokee JROTC Earns Distinguished Unit With Merit Award

From the Cherokee County School District: The Cherokee High School Junior ROTC unit has won the prestigious 2016-2017 Air Force JROTC Distinguished Unit with Merit Award!

Only 73 of the 897 Air Force JROTC units nationwide were selected for the honor, which recognizes programs that have performed well above and beyond normal expectations and distinguished themselves through outstanding service to their school and community while meeting the organization’s citizen development mission. Lt. Col. (Ret.) Eddy Stanfill commands the program at Cherokee HS.

The objectives of the Air Force JROTC 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. More than 120,000 cadets complete more than 1.6 million hours of community service each year through JROTC.

“The Distinguished Unit with Merit Award is limited to the very best of the best of our nation’s Air Force JROTC units,” U.S. Air Force Col. Bobby C. Woods Jr. said. “I appreciate your outstanding support in ‘Developing citizens of character dedicated to serving the nation and your communities.’”

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Stanfill and his student leaders will be recognized by the Cherokee County School Board and Superintendent of Schools at the School Board’s August meeting.

Photo caption: The Cherokee HS JROTC has won the prestigious 2016-2017 Air Force JROTC Distinguished Unit with Merit Award! The program’s honors this past school year include its Riflery Warriors winning the National Championship.

Photo courtesy of the Cherokee County School District