KNOXVILLE — Air Force ROTC Detachment 800 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has received the 2010 Right of Line Award, honoring it as the best of the nation’s 56 medium-sized AFROTC Detachments.
The award is given in three categories based on detachment enrollment: Small (75 or fewer cadets), Medium (76 to 150 cadets) and Large (150 or more cadets). Massachusetts Institute of Technology won best small detachment and Purdue University won best large detachment. UT’s Detachment won the right to compete for the national award after being named the Southeast Region Medium Detachment of the Year.
The competition measured performance in five categories: production of officers, education, recruiting and retention, university and public relations, and cadet activities.
Some specific AFROTC Detachment 800 accomplishments include commissioning 21 officers this spring (a 250 percent increase from 2008), having its training program lauded as outstanding and “one of the best training programs ever seen” by the Air Education and Training Command Inspector General, and having several cadet leaders recognized for winning national level awards that include three Society of American Military Engineer Awards. The Detachment also was commended for providing unsurpassed leadership development opportunities for cadets, including a mentoring session with the 22nd Secretary of the Air Force, Michael B. Donley.
“It takes a supportive university and community to capture an award of this magnitude,” Lt. Col. Mike Angle said, acknowledging the support received from UT, the East Tennessee Military Affairs Council, the Air Force Association and the numerous military, military support and community organizations that enhance the AFROTC program.
CONTACT:
Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, amy.blakely@tennessee.edu)