Two Wayne County high schools were recognized Monday evening by the Wayne County Board of Education for having earned a Distinguished Unit Award from the United States Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) Headquarters for their outstanding programs over the course of the 2022-2023 school year.

The Eastern Wayne High School AFJROTC Unit (NC-804) and the Southern Wayne High School AFJROTC Unit (NC-023) were among 30 units across the state and among 367 units nationwide to receive the Distinguished Unit Award for the 2022-2023 school year. There are currently 890 AFJROTC units across the United States, U.S. territories, and DODD schools outside of the U.S.

The Distinguished Unit Award recognizes units that have performed well above and beyond normal expectations, and that have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to their school and community while meeting the Air Force JROTC citizen development mission for America. It is the highest possible unit award the units can receive by the AFJROTC Headquarters for their program in a non-inspection year.

In addition to meeting all fitness, training, program, and testing requirements, cadets completed hundreds of hours of community service.

“I am very proud of the AFJROTC cadets who have worked countless hours above and beyond their school requirements to help those in our community,” said Col George W. Schantz, Jr., USAF (Ret), SWH AFJROTC Instructor. “Our cadets continually provide the public with the faith and hope that our future graduates will be community leaders in a future that is not certain.”

It is worth noting that this is the sixth year in a row that Eastern Wayne High School’s AFJROTC unit, and the fourth year in a row that Southern Wayne High School’s AFJROTC, has been recognized with the highest possible unit award by the AFJROTC Headquarters.

For the past two years, both units have been recognized with a Distinguished Unit Award. The Eastern Wayne High School AFJROTC unit earned a Distinguished Unit Award w/Merit Award for the 2017-2018 school year, which was its last inspection year. Both units were awarded the AFJROTC Resiliency COVID-19 Award Ribbon for the 2020-2021 school year, which was the only honor presented to AFJROTC units that year.

“As always, it was a team effort between cadets, instructors MSgt Lucius Turner and I, school administration and counselors,” states Lt Col (Ret.) Jesse Smith, EWHS AFJROTC Instructor. “I am extremely proud of our cadets and all they accomplished throughout the school year.”