Hard work helps Norwin Air Force Junior ROTC win high honors

Hard work combined with community service were responsible for Norwin High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC program earning the second-highest recognition from the Air Force’s Junior ROTC, officials with the program said.

“They worked very hard this year as a team. One of the program’s goals is for cadets to experience a ‘sense of accomplishment.’ I think it’s safe to say, we met and exceeded that goal,” said Chief Master Sgt. Tim Conley, aerospace science instructor with the program.

The Norwin Air Force Junior ROTC program, which is five years old, was one of 376 units to receive the Air Force JROTC Distinguished Unit Award this school year from the ROTC headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. The award recognizes Junior ROTC units that have performed well beyond expectations and have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to their school and community, while meeting the Air Force JROTC citizen development mission for America.

“It was great to see the Corps recognized for their effort. Many of my fellow cadets worked hard this year to exceed our goals,” said Cadet/Lt. Col. Luke Bertani, a junior at Norwin. He is one of 110 student cadets in the program this year.

The Air Force JROTC program educates and trains high school cadets in citizenship and life skills. It promotes community service, instills responsibility, character, and self-discipline, while also providing instruction in air and space fundamentals. It offers leadership development teams as extracurricular activities in which cadets can participate.

“I believe the hard work of the cadets showcases the reasons the (school) district brought this program to Norwin,” said Lt. Col. David Sandala, who is senior aerospace science instructor with the program. “The cadets take great pride in being members of the JROTC program.”

The Norwin cadets completed more than 100 events totaling more than 3,400 hours of community service. Each cadet has averaged 28 hours of service, which is well above the required 12 hours. The unit competed in six drill competitions this school year.

Norwin is among about 900 high schools in the nation — as well as in Europe, the Pacific, and Puerto Rico — with Junior ROTC programs, with an enrollment topping 120,000 cadets.