High Flight Award
Air Force ROTC detachment wins regional small unit High Flight Award
9:35 a.m., Nov. 20, 2015--University of Delaware Air Force ROTC Detachment 128 has been named the named the small unit High Flight Award winner for the northeast region.
This marks the second time in its 30-year history that the detachment has been so honored. The detachment previously won the award in 2008.
Honors Stories
National Medal of Science
Warren Award
The award recognizes outstanding accomplishments during the period from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015, and is presented to the best small detachment in the region.
There are three categories of detachments in Air Force ROTC — small, medium and large — and small detachments are those that consist of fewer than 74 cadets.
To qualify for the High Flight Award, detachments are judged on their officer production, education, recruiting and retention, university and public relations, and cadet activities.
Detachment 128 competed against 26 other detachments in the region and was selected over other detachments at universities that include Yale, Howard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Our cadets are very aware of their legacy, as well as the traditions they want to instill in this detachment,” said Major Andrew Hott, the detachment’s operations officer and cadet wing mentor. “They are smart, athletic, patriotic and want to do something extraordinary with their lives. They endeavor to be doctors, nurses, lawyers, pilots and engineers. They are all here to become officers, leaders of men and women while they serve their nation.”
As part of the award competition, the commander submits a package detailing what the detachment has done to go above and beyond standard Air Force ROTC requirements. Detachments are also measured on tangible scores such as grade point averages, physical fitness test scores and community and university involvement.
This is a significant accomplishment, Hott said. Two years ago, cadets within the detachment began their effort known as Vision 2020, which described goals and objectives the cadets wanted to accomplish over the next five years. Additionally, it detailed a plan on how they would accomplish it.
The ultimate goal of the vision was to win the coveted regional High Flight Award. With the announcement on Nov. 3, that goal has been met and “it looks like they need to rewrite their vision,” Hott said.
Students who are interested in joining this award-winning AFROTC program, contact the recruiting officer, Capt. Laura Covalesky, at lcovales@udel.edu or by calling 302-831-2863.
The 128th Cadet Wing is headquartered at 314 Wyoming Road.