After winning second place in 2010, UP’s Air Force ROTC is now the best in the nation
(Photo courtesy of fromthebarn.org)
By Harry Blakeman Staff Writer blakeman15@up.edu
UP's Air Force ROTC Detachment 695 has been named the top detachment of its size in the nation, winning the Right of Line award, AFROTC's top honor.
With 120 cadets, UP's detachment belongs to the middle size, one of three size categories for the award. Col. Paul Huffman, Detachment 695's commander, says the award legitimizes the respect UP's detachment deserves as one of the nation's best.
UP's AFROTC detachment ranks third nationally in number of cadets per capita of undergraduate enrollment size. About 5 percent of UP undergraduates are in the program, and Huffman believes that makes the accomplishment even more impressive.
"To be among all these huge programs and universities is a big deal," said Huffman.
Detachment 695 also finished first nationally in 2004 and won its region in 2010. Huffman thinks UP has showed such success in the past because his detachment understands it is a team effort.
The detachment won the award after submitting its accomplishments in the annual award cycle, first winning the region, before taking the national honor.
Huffman believes the partnership Detachment 695 has with UP is fundamental to its success.
"After 60 plus years of support - that relationship really shows itself," said Huffman.
Senior Rob Cagan, an AFROTC cadet, is proud that Detachment 695 is beginning to be recognized for their hours of hard work.
"It's always special when you get this kind of recognition," said Cagan.
Cagan believes that the unique scholarship system at the University has played a major role in attracting new cadets to the program.
Senior Trevor Webber, an AFROTC cadet, also appreciates the University's role.
"We couldn't do it without the help of the University - it's a great school if you're planning on doing ROTC," said Webber.
Still, Webber pointed out that one of the goals of AFROTC is to be excellent in all they do, and thinks Detachment 695 can still find ways to improve and continue to succeed.
Huffman sees the Right of Line award as a feather in the cap for the detachment, and says the respect and clout of the detachment will increase with its recruiting. While there is no prize money for the Right of Line award, an increase in recruitment could lead to increases in scholarships.
Webber hopes this will be the case too, and believes the detachment's successes will only push them to succeed more, and to be recognized for it.
"We put a lot of hard work into it - I definitely see it growing in the next few years," Webber said.
