Alconbury High AFJROTC earns distinguished mark Published May 17, 2010 MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Unit 20021 at RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom, has been selected as one of 230 units to receive the 2009-2010 Air Force Junior ROTC Distinguished Unit Award. This award recognizes Air Force Junior ROTC units that have performed above and beyond normal expectations, and that have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to their school and community while meeting the Air Force Junior ROTC mission of producing better citizens for America. The objectives of the Junior ROTC program are to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship and life skills; promote community service; instill responsibility, character, and self-discipline through character education, and to provide instruction in air and space fundamentals. Enrollment is open to all young people who are in the 9th grade or higher, physically fit, and are citizens or nationals of the United States. Air Force Junior ROTC is located in 884 high schools across the United States and at selected schools in Europe, in the Pacific and Puerto Rico. Junior ROTC enrollment includes more than 110,000 cadets. "We are the only unit in Europe and DoD Education Activity that can claim we have won the award five years in a row," said Major (Ret.) Lowell Bartmess, senior aerospace senior instructor. The unit's Aerospace Science instructor, Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Darryl Jacob also received the Outstanding Instructor Award for School Year 2009-2010. This award is granted to the top 10 percent of all Aerospace Science Instructors worldwide.