SECTION 14
AWARDS, DECORATIONS, BADGES, & SPECIAL RECOGNITION
14.1 JROTC Cadets may earn various decorations, awards, badges, and special decorations during the year. Only those awards specifically authorized by regulation, or awards earned in other JROTC units for which orders or other supporting documents are on file, may be worn on the Army JROTC cadet uniform.
14.2 All decorations, awards, badges, special decorations will be worn in accordance with the Cadet Reference Guide, Cadet Command Regulation 145-2, and this SOP. The following information is specifically restated in this SOP due to it’s importance concerning the proper wear of the Army JROTC uniform.
14.2.1 RHS JROTC Authorized Awards (Ribbons) for Wear on the Class A, B, and Blues Uniforms
MEDAL FOR HEROISM – Awarded to any JROTC cadet who performs an act of heroism. Must be submitted through the chain of command and approved by Cadet Command.
SUPERIOR CADET – Awarded annually to one outstanding cadet in each LET Level. Instructors select the overall best cadet in each LET level to receive this award.
DISTINGUISHED CADET – Awarded annually to one cadet who exhibits the highest degree of experience in scholastics. Determined by SAI based on overall highest GPA and difficulty of course load. schedule
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE – Awarded annually to one cadet in each LET Level for maintaining the highest overall school academic grades based on the cadet’s Report cards. The annual period runs from 4th 9 weeks to 3rd 9 weeks for the LET II and III levels. The LET I annual period is based on the academic grades of the cadet’s 1st through 3rd 9 weeks.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT – Awarded annually to those cadets who maintain a grade of “A” in all academic subjects based on the cadet’s report cards.
PERFECT ATTENDANCE – Awarded to cadets with no unexcused absences during each semester.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT – All cadets elected to student government office are authorized to wear this award.
LET SERVICE – Awarded to cadets in good standing for successfully completing the 1st Semester of training of each LET year.
SAI INSTRUCTOR LEADERSHIP – Awarded annually to one cadet per LET level who displays the highest degree of leadership.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE – Awarded annually to cadets who consistently present an outstanding appearance in and out of uniform.
PROFICIENCY – Awarded annually to cadets who have demonstrated an exceptionally high degree of leadership, academic achievement (overall B / 85 average or higher), and performance of duty.
DRILL TEAM – Awarded annually to Drill Team members who have been on Drill Team for a 1 year period.
ORIENTEERING – Awarded annually to cadets who are members of orienteering teams. Awarded to all Raider Team members who participated in a competition in which an orienteering event was held.
COLOR GUARD – Awarded annually to Color Guard members who have been on Drill Team for a 1 year period.
ADVENTURE TRAINING – Awarded annually to cadets who are members of adventure type units. Awarded annually to Raider Team members who have been on the Raider Team for a 1 year period.
COMMENDATION – Awarded to cadets whose performance of duty exceptionally exceeds that expected of a cadet of his grade and experience. SAI/AI selected.
GOOD CONDUCT – Awarded annually to cadets who have demonstrated outstanding conduct throughout the school year. All cadets selected to return to the program will be awarded the good conduct ribbon except for those who spent time in ISS/suspension.
VARSITY ATHLETICS – Awarded annually to cadets that excel in varsity sports. Awarded at RHS if cadet lettered in a varsity sport.
PHYSICAL FITNESS – Awarded to cadets who score in the 85th percentile and above in all events on the annual Cadet Challenge (same as the Presidential Fitness Award).
JROTC ATHLETICS – Awarded to cadets who score in the 50th percentile and above in all events on the annual Cadet Challenge (same as the National Fitness Award).
PARADE – Awarded to cadets who have participated in local community parades. RHS JROTC requires participation in the Veteran’s Day Parade in order to earn this ribbon.
RECRUITING – Awarded to cadets who recruit a minimum of 1 student into the JROTC program each semester or all cadets who participated in the Recruiting Presentation/Brief to the RMS 8th graders.
SERVICE LEARNING – Awarded annually to cadets who participate in service learning projects.
EXCELLENT STAFF PERFORMANCE – Awarded annually to cadet staff officers for excellent performance.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT INSIGNIA – A gold wreath authorized for wear by cadets in the top 10% of each JROTC LET levels as determined by the SAI. Gold Wreath authorized for initial award. A felt pad center background indicates subsequent awards – Second Award – red pad, Third Award – silver pad, and Fourth Award – gold pad. 10% number based on opening enrollment of LET classes and cadet must be returning to JROTC (RHS program or another) in order to eligible for academic achievement insignia.
14.2.2 Ribbons and Medals can both be worn on the Army JROTC uniform. Ribbons and medals for the same achievement or service cannot be worn simultaneously and no more than 3 medals can be worn on the uniform.
14.2.3 No more than 2 Cords may be worn at the same time.
14.3 Each Cadet is responsible to describe ribbons, decorations, and awards, and special insignia attached to the individual uniform. In addition, the cadet must be prepared to explain how the award or decoration was obtained. Failure to do so could result in revocation of the award(s).
14.4 Each cadet having personal knowledge of an act, achievement, or service, believed to warrant the award of a decoration, should submit a recommendation for consideration through the cadet chain of command to the SAI/AI.
14.5 No award will be worn by a cadet until official orders have been published.
14.6 Cords. The following Cords are authorized to be worn by cadets in the Hawk Battalion with the Army JROTC uniform . Cords can be worn by cadets only while they are filling the position or currently on the team for which the cord is authorized.
14.6.1 Field Grade Cord – Gold/Red (Battalion Commander, Battalion Command Sergeant Major, Battalion Executive Officer, and Battalion Plans and Operations Officer - S3). Awarded upon filling one of the four Field Grade assignments within the Battalion.
14.6.2 Battalion Staff And Company Commander Cord – Gold. Awarded upon filling one of the C/CPT primary staff positions (Battalion Adjutant – S1, Battalion Security Officer – S2, Battalion Logistics Officer – S4, and the Battalion Public Affairs Officer – S5).
14.6.3 First Sergeants’ Cord – Black and White. Awarded upon filling a Company Commander or First Sergeant position.
14.6.4 Drill Team Cord – Red. Awarded upon completion of successfully competing in a Drill competition/meet.
14.6.5 Color Guard Cord – White. Awarded upon completion of successfully competing in a Drill competition/meet.
14.6.6 Raider Cord – Black. Awarded upon completion of successfully competing in a Raider competition/meet.
14.7 Tabs. The following Tabs are authorized to be worn by cadets in the Hawk Battalion with the Army JROTC uniform . Tabs are individual awards that are awarded for the duration of a JROTC Cadet’s career. Tabs are worn in accordance with the Cadet Reference Guide. The Tabs listed below are the only Tabs authorized for wear in the Hawk Battalion.
14.7.1 Drill Team, Color Guard, and Raider Tabs. Awarded upon successful completion of being a member of one of these teams in good standing for one complete school year (Fall and Spring Season) or two consecutive seasons (Spring and Fall Season). In order to earn one of these individual Tabs, the cadet must first have qualified to wear the respective Cord. Good standing is defined as meeting all other JROTC requirements as stipulated in Cadet Command Regulation 145-2, Cadet Reference Guide, and this SOP.
14.7.2 Staff Tab. Awarded upon successful completion of being a primary staff officer, assistant staff officer, or NCO in good standing for one complete school year.
14.7.3 Summer Camp Tab. Awarded upon selection for and successful completion of the JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge (JCLC) 5 day Summer Camp at Wendell Ford Training Center. Typically 12-13 Cadets will be selected from the LET 1 through 3 classes to attend each summer.
14.7.4 Sabre Guard Tab. Awarded upon being selected and successfully completing 5 Sabre Guard details.
14.8 JROTC Varsity Letter and JROTC Letter Jacket. The Rossview High School JROTC Department will award letters to RHS JROTC cadets who are members of the following Varsity (competition) teams and have competed at all competitions during a Fall or Spring Season. Although cadets may not compete at competitions hosted by RHS JROTC, cadets must participate in the planning and executing of that competition in order to be eligible to letter for that season.
· Raider Team
o Platoon
o Squad
o Color Guard
14.8.1 Cadets who participate in Drill and Raider Teams are eligible to earn a varsity letter in the respective activity provided they meet the following requirements:
· Participate for a complete Fall Season (August – December) or Spring Season (January – May). Typical season will consist of 3 to 5 competitions.
· Selected for and competed on the Varsity team at all competitions during the Fall or Spring Season.
· JROTC cadets who are members of the Junior Varsity teams listed above who have competed at all competitions for two consecutive years/four seasons.
· Cadets may only participate on 1 team per season. Cadets are eligible for only 1 Varsity Team (Drill or Raider) per season. Switching teams during the same season may be permissible on a case by case basis. For example, switching from Raider to Drill upon completing all Raider Team competitions.
· The actual letter (R) is awarded to the cadet the first time they meet the lettering qualification criteria stated above. Upon meeting the qualification a second time the cadet will be awarded a silver eagle to wear on their Letter. Upon meeting the qualification a third time the cadet will be awarded a single star to wear on their Letter. Upon meeting the qualification a fourth time the cadet will be awarded a gold insignia stating “Hawk Battalion” to wear on their Letter. There are no subsequent awards.
· Letters will be awarded at the end of each season.
14.8.2 The authorized JROTC Letter Jacket is the only clothing article that the JROTC Letter is approved for wear on and procurement of the jacket is an individual cadet responsibility.
