The Thomasville High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFJROTC) held its year-end awards ceremony recently at MacIntyre Park Middle School Auditorium with cadets, instructors, parents and national award presenters in attendance. Cadet 1st Lt. Jordan Bonar was the emcee for the event.

Local internal awards were given to cadets for various achievements during the current school year, including drill team, flag corps, physical training and academic successes. These awards were presented by Lt. Col. (USAF Ret.) Rick Mosby, Senior Aerospace Science Instructor and MSgt. (USAF Ret.) Charles (Chad) Smith, Aerospace Science Instructor. A video was shown on the activities and field trips taken by the unit this year which included Eglin Air Force Base, Atlanta, drill competitions and working with the Civil Air Patrol.

Many national award presenters were on hand for the second part of the program, representing military retirees’ organizations, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and many other Air Force veterans’ groups. Two national award presenters from Thomasville were Robert H. Parrish Jr., representing the National Society Sons of the America Revolution (SAR), Valdosta Chapter, and Jinanne B. Parrish, representing the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Thomasville Chapter. Both are officers in their respective chapters and are long-time presenters at the AFJROTC awards ceremony.

The SAR Bronze Medal, authorized in 1965, was presented by Mr. Parrish to Cadet Senior Airman First Class Malaysia Gelin. This award recognizes an outstanding third year cadet in a secondary school JROTC unit who exhibits a high degree of leadership, military bearing and all-around excellence in Aerospace Science Studies, is in the top 10 percent of the JROTC class and exemplifies the ideals and principles that motivated and sustained our patriot ancestors.  

The medal is struck on a circular planchet with the Liberty Bell, minuteman citizen soldier with musket, the year 1776, a plow in the background that was laid down to fight for independence, and the letters, “ROTC.” Surrounding the medal are the words “The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.” The reverse side is engraved, “Awarded for Leadership, Soldierly Bearing, and Excellence.” The medal is suspended from a blue, gold and white ribbon, SAR colors. It can be worn according to cadet program protocol. A cash award also went to the recipient from the presenter.

The DAR Bronze JROTC Medal was presented by Mrs. Parrish to Cadet Airman First Class Jermaiyah Kerbo. This award goes to an outstanding junior or senior cadet and states that the recipient must have demonstrated loyalty and patriotism and earned a record of military and scholastic achievement during their participation in a JROTC program. Students must be in the upper 25 percent of their classes in JROTC and in academic subjects. They must have shown qualities of dependability and good character, adherence to military discipline, leadership ability and a fundamental and patriotic understanding of the importance of JROTC training. 

 Not more than one student in a graduating class in a secondary school JROTC program may be the recipient of the DAR Bronze JROTC Medal. The medal features the insignia of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution on a red and white ribbon which can be worn in accordance with cadet program protocol. A cash award from the presenter also went to this recipient.

The AFJROTC is a federal program, administered by Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama. Its mission is to “develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community. The core values of the Air Force are taught, those being “integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.” There are about 121,000 high school cadets around the world, in almost 900 units, with around 1,950 retired USAF personnel serving as aerospace instructors. The program has a very positive impact on its schools, cadets and communities. Thomasville High School and its students are very fortunate to have the AFJROTC program as part of its curriculum.