KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The Dobyns-Bennett High School Air Force Junior ROTC has earned the Air Force JROTC Distinguished Unit Award with Merit (DUA w/ Merit) and the Distinguished Unit Award (DUA) for the 2015-2016 school year, the ninth consecutive year. The DUA is the highest level unit award for the AF JROTC awarded by Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Headquarters, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL.

This award places D-B in the top 29 percent all AF ROTC units in world.

“These awards recognize the personal growth and accomplishments of the cadets, contributions of the instructors as mentors, and the support of the school and local community,” wrote Colonel Bobby Woods, AF JROTC Director in his congratulatory letter to Colonel Eric Vogt, US Air Force, Retired and Dobyns-Bennett Senior Aerospace Science Instructor. “Certainly, many AFJROTC units are doing great things resulting in positive impacts in their schools and respective communities, but these units truly represent the best of our 889 AFJROTC and NDCC units worldwide. The cadets, instructors, and schools are to be commended for earning their award.”

All first and second semester D-B Cadets will receive the DUA Ribbon for their uniforms.

“Colonel Vogt and Senior Master Sergeant Angelo Pellitteri have worked to provide a program of excellence through high expectations and strong leadership development,” said Dobyns-Bennett Principal Dr. Chris Hampton. “The fact that we have earned this designation for each year our program has existed speaks volumes to the leadership and culture that permeates this outstanding organization. This is definitely one of the most student-focused organizations at our school.”

In 2015-2016, D-B Cadets have completed over 2,800 community service hours to date, including multiple competitions, countless color guards throughout the school and community, community and becoming involved with the day-to-day operations of the unit which includes tasks such as completing inventories of books, uniforms and specialized supplies while wearing the uniform once per week.

Since the D-B AF JROTC program was established in 2006, 980 D-B students have participated in at least one semester of AF JROTC. Of the D-B cadets who were active for all four years, three cadets have earned their commissions in the US Army, Marines and Air Force, and at least 12 cadets serve in the US Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force. Ten cadets earned or are earning baccalaureate degrees from UT, ETSU, Clemson and several are attending Northeast State.

This year’s graduates include one cadet planning to join the Air Force; one cadet plans on attending UT, one at ETSU and three to Northeast State.

Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a public school district located in Kingsport, Tenn., serving students in Sullivan and Hawkins county. The district is comprised of 13 schools, including a Pre-K, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and a non-traditional school; with total enrollment over 7,100 students. The vision of Kingsport City Schools is to be, Student Focused … World Class.

KCS has been named the top school district in Tennessee as winner of the 2014 SCORE Prize District Award by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) and has earned the 2014 Achievement Award in the annual Excellence in Tennessee Recognition Program by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNPCE).

For more information on KCS, visit k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, read our blog, We Are KCS, or call (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (Kingsport City Schools), Twitter (@KCS_District) and check out our YouTube Channel (KPTSchools).

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