Florida Air Force ROTC Wins National Award

As the country celebrates its military veterans this week, the University of Florida has some future veterans to appreciate. The school's Air Force ROTC won the national Right of Line Award, given to the program judged best of its size, the Independent Florida Alligator reports.

Some 50 schools were up for the award, which is based on training, education, and recruitment, the Alligator says. The University of Florida's Air Force ROTC program has its student members participate in field training, leadership forums, and career fairs with current Air Force officers. The program won the same award in 2007 but was ineligible for the award in 2008 because of contest rules.

"Maybe other universities do what we do, but then we take it to the higher level," Maj. Craig Heitzler, a professor at Florida, tells the Alligator.

The program's cadet wing commander, Lori Bowen, tells the paper that the victory can be credited to strong teamwork among students, faculty, and officers. Maj. James Bodnar, who is the commandant of Air Force ROTC cadets at Florida, believes that the award gives Florida ROTC grads a leg up careerwise when they leave college.

Fresno State's Air Force ROTC detachment won its second consecutive Right of Line Award, the Fresno Bee reports. Fresno State won in the medium-size category last year and in the small-size category this year.

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