Fresno State AFROTC unit is nation's best

For the second consecutive year, the Air Force ROTC at California State University, Fresno has been named the best unit of its size in the country with the prestigious Right of Line Award – a rare back-to-back accomplishment.

Col John McCain, the national AFROTC commander from Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, will be in Fresno today (Nov. 5) to present the Right of Line Award to Fresno State in a special flag retreat ceremony from 4-4:20 p.m. in front of the North Gym on campus. The flag-lowering will be first at 4 p.m.

Today’s ceremony, which will open Detachment 35’s Leadership Laboratory class, will include Dr. Carolyn Coon, dean of students, and Dr. Lynette Zelezny, associate dean of the Craig School of Business which houses the university’s Air Force (Aerospace Studies) and Army (Military Science) ROTC units.

The 59-cadet AFROTC unit was awarded the prestigious Right of Line Award for “Best Detachment in the Nation” in the small-size detachment category, based on overall performance. Fresno State’s AFROTC Detachment 35 also won last year but in the medium-size category, when it had 61 members.

This latest distinction was earned at the annual AFROTC Detachment Commanders’ Conference Oct. 21 in Montgomery and marks more than 61 years since the establishment of Detachment 35 as a military unit based in Fresno.

The Right of Line Award is given annually to one school from each of the small, medium (60-99 cadets) and large detachment categories. There are 144 detachments nationwide, 52 of them in the small-size category, which includes programs with up to 59 cadets.

University of Florida and University of Texas San Antonio won in the medium- and large-school categories, respectively.

“Recognition as the top detachment in AFROTC for two years running is simply phenomenal,” said Lt Col John Lussi, who was named commander of Fresno State’s detachment in August.

“Being named the top small detachment in the nation after last year’s recognition as the top mid-sized detachment in the nation is like winning the welterweight belt while still wearing the middleweight belt and shows that Fresno State AFROTC cadets continue to excel in their preparation to become the future leaders of the United States Air Force,” Lussi added. “I couldn’t be prouder of this detachment and I thank the university and its students for their fantastic support to the detachment for more than 61 years of service with Fresno State.”

In July, the Fresno State AFROTC was presented with the High Flight Award for “Best Detachment in Air Force ROTC’s Southwest Region” for the small-size category.

The detachment will make its next public appearance Nov. 11 at the Fresno Veterans Day Parade in downtown Fresno along with the Army ROTC, the Bulldog Marching Band and the new Fresno State Student Veterans Organization.