(Jan. 18, 2019) -- UTSA Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) detachment 842 is gaining national attention. It has been named the United States Air Force (USAF) 2018 High Flight award winner, signifying the best large ROTC detachment in the region, an area spanning from Louisiana to Hawaii. UTSA’s program is recognized for its relentless focus on cadet development through deliberate training, engaging experiences and a genuine desire to invest in future leaders.
Several UTSA ROTC members also received individual honors from the USAF. Agustin Llano, the UTSA Air Force ROTC program manager, was selected as the nation’s University Employee of the Year Air Force ROTC. Two staff members were also selected for regional awards. Captain Jesse Beinhower was named Education Officer of the Year and Captain Anthony Guajardo ’11 was selected as Recruiting Officer of the Year.
“I am so proud of this detachment, our staff and our cadets,” said Lieutenant Colonel Brian Rendell, commander of the UTSA ROTC detachment. “Our team works incredibly hard to train the next generation of Air Force officers, and these accolades speak to the greatness of this detachment and this university. We fully believe in UTSA’s focus on student success, and do everything we can to invest in our students through engagement, educational support and experiential programs.”
The UTSA Air Force ROTC program includes about 200 cadets, making it the second largest detachment in Texas, and one of the 20 largest in the nation. Demographically, the detachment is more diverse than the Air Force and is comprised of cadets from UTSA and six other San Antonio area colleges and universities.
The detachment mission is to recruit great people, develop them into scholar-warrior leaders who take ownership and engage in partnership, then commission them as exceptional officers in the United States Air Force.
“It’s far too simple to say that we commission officers because the Air Force needs them,” said Rendell. “The truth is deeper than that—we build exceptional officers because our world needs people who stand out by how they live their lives, how they lead and the impact they make on the world.”
The cadets go through more than 1,000 hours of career-focused training conducted through academic classes, leadership training, physical training, field training and numerous other professional development opportunities. The cadets have conducted field activities at Camp Bullis, flown in jets at Randolph Air Force Base, participated in physical training with Air Force Special Forces, and even traveled to China for specialized language training.
“The reasons people join the Air Force ROTC program at UTSA and the reasons they stay in the program varies,” said Captain Glen Peoples, a detachment recruiting officer. “Our program is for people interested in everything from community, relationships, tradition, service, career, life skills or an adventure.”
Qualified cadets are also eligible for financial support through scholarships and stipends.
"Cadets connect with one another here and form bonds that last a lifetime,” said Peoples. “They’re joining a family. In fact, two of our cadre members, Captain Celeste Florell ’08 and Captain Guajardo, graduated from UTSA and earned their commission from this very detachment. They believed so much in this cause, that they volunteered to come back to UTSA to reinvest in the program as experienced officers.”
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Detachment 842, which has also been named the top ROTC detachment in the nation twice over the past 10 years. Later this year, it will host a homecoming celebration to commemorate this historical milestone, and the many awards the detachment has won over the past three decades.
Learn more about the UTSA Air Force ROTC Detachment 842 or call 210-458-4624.
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In partnership with Metro Health, HCAP will host a lecture discussing the life and body of work of Dr. Fernando Guerra, longtime director of the Metropolitan Health District.
Buena Vista Theater, Downtown CampusJoin our team to reflect on the students’ achievements and challenges during the semester and explore techniques, strategies, and tools to address growth mindset, self-reliance, and what it takes to keep students committed and on the path to success
Multidisciplinary Studies (MS 240) and VirtualThis course will introduce you to this popular graduate program, providing a review of UTSA’s Employee Educational Benefit program and MPA info. Free lunch will be provided!
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Sombrilla Plaza and Central Plaza , Main CampusFiesta Arts Fair is a party with a purpose! The annual art-focused fundraising celebration provides operating support for UTSA Arts, which is dedicated to community arts education for children and adults, public-facing performances and exhibitions, and arts-based research and partnerships to enhance the accessibility of the arts for the public.
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UTSA Downtown CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
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UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
