Mount Dora High's Air Force Jr. ROTC unit honored w/Silver Star

Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial
·2 min read
Mount Dora High School's Air Force Jr. ROTC is among three programs in the state of Florida, and only 44 units worldwide earned this honor.
Mount Dora High School's Air Force Jr. ROTC is among three programs in the state of Florida, and only 44 units worldwide earned this honor.

High schoolers enroll in Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs for a number of reasons. The programs help students pay for college, and they instill leadership and decision-making skills.There are also mentorship opportunities, and past recruits have provided testimonials about their increased physical fitness, self-discipline and confidence.

If you have a high school student interested in joining a Junior ROTC program, Lake County now has one of the best programs in the country.

Mount Dora High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC (AFJROTC) unit has earned the Silver Star Community Service with Excellence Award for 2022-23. The unit ranks among the top 5% of all AFJROTC units worldwide based on community service in support of schools and local communities.

“FL-951 was recognized for our service to the school, community and nation by performing over 6,800 service hours during the annual reporting period,” said Maj. Andrew C. Scott, USAF (Ret.), in a recent press statement. The senior aerospace science instructor said that only three programs in the state of Florida and only 44 units worldwide earned this honor.

"This is our program’s sixth time earning the honor in the seven years the award has existed!” Scott effused.

The other Florida schools that earned the honor are Osceola High in Kissimmee and Forest High in Ocala.

“The importance of service and understanding how it positively impacts our cadets, schools, communities and our nation is a critical component of what we strive to teach through our program and is a central part of our mission,” wrote Col. Johnny R. McGonigal, USAF director, HQ Air Force Junior ROTC, in a letter to the school.

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“The award is earned by units with the highest per cadet average of community service hours that are planned and conducted by cadets under the supervision of our instructors," McGonigal added. "This award also recognizes the personal growth and accomplishments of the cadets, contributions of the instructors as mentors, and the support of the school and local community.”

For the 2022-23 academic year, the cadets of the 870 AFJROTC units worldwide put in over 1.2 million community service hours. AFJROTC operates in all 50 states, U.S. territories and within the Department of Defense School Systems in Europe and Asia.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Lake County Jr. ROTC program wins Silver Star award