STARKVILLE, Miss.--The Arnold Air Society squadron at Mississippi State is receiving two major honors for community service achievements.
The university's 60-cadet U.S. Air Force ROTC Detachment 425 recently was notified of its selection for the 2008:
--Chennault Trophy, recognizing the Kenneth Snedden Squadron of the Arnold Air Society as the outstanding small squadron in the nation; and
--Ciccoli Joint Operations Award, presented to the squadron and Silver Wings Chapter "for best furthering the objectives of both organizations in a joint manner."
Both Arnold and Silver Wings are designed to help student cadets enhance their leadership and management skills through a variety of service activities that benefit the campus and local communities.
AFROTC at Mississippi State began in 1949, two years after the Air Force became a separate branch of the nation's military.
As a land-grant institution, the 130-year-old university was established on a legacy of military tradition. A Reserve Officers Training Corps was founded at then-Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1917, a year after Congress created the collegiate officer-preparatory programs as the country was entering World War I.
For more information on the awards, contact the detachment at 662-325-3810.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.
