MARCH 16, 2023 — Air University has awarded UTSA’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 842 several honors for its achievements throughout 2022. The leading agent in professional Air Force education, Air University recognizes the top detachments in the nation each year.
The UTSA organization earned the Holm Center Team of the Year award, the AFROTC University Employee of the Year award (southwest region) and the AFROTC Volunteer of the Year award (southwest region). The awards represent the detachment’s ongoing commitment to promoting student success and producing exceptional leaders.
UTSA’s detachment was selected for the Holm Center Team of the Year award—which recognizes excellence in unit performance—after competing at the regional and national levels and beating hundreds of other AFROTC and junior ROTC programs from around the country. It is the highest award that a team can earn from Air University.
“Being selected to receive this award out of so many ROTC detachments across the nation is proof of the outstanding work our students and staff are doing,” said USAF Lt. Col. Kirk Hoffman, commander of UTSA’s AFROTC Detachment 842 and department chair of aerospace studies. “I’m incredibly proud of the remarkable team we’ve created here at UTSA, and the future leaders we’re building in our program.”
Members of UTSA’s AFROTC were also recognized at the regional level for their individual contributions to the detachment’s success over the past year. These awards recognize excellence in the southwest region, which is made up of 36 AFROTC units at universities and colleges spanning from Mississippi to Hawaii.
Agustin Llano, who serves as program manager for Detachment 842, received the AFROTC University Employee of the Year award for the southwest region. Although Llano himself is often behind the scenes, his work has a visible effect on the success of the program. Llano led a small team that orchestrated virtual training sessions for all 36 detachments to improve efficiency in cadet record keeping and to reduce input errors. Llano also arranged the unit’s inaugural Detachment Alumni Giving Day fundraiser, which immediately impacted students by funding team-building events for cadets.
The detachment’s Staff Sgt. Rashaad Taylor, a non-commissioned officer in charge (NCOIC), received the AFROTC Volunteer of the Year award for the southwest region. After volunteering at a local branch of the San Antonio library, Taylor took the initiative to develop a schedule promoting monthly volunteer opportunities for cadets, so they could participate in similar experiences. Taylor also spent time supporting the UTSA Whataburger Resource Room food pantry, AFROTC recruiting events, and the university’s Veterans’ Day program during the past year.
UTSA’s AFROTC is the fourth largest detachment in the southwest region—boasting 164 cadets from around the country.
Additional accomplishments of the team include:
In addition to their most recent accolades, Detachment 842 was also a two-time recipient of both the High Flight Award, which signifies the best large detachment in their region, and the prestigious Right of Line Best Large Detachment Award, a national honor based on performance measurements such as officer production, scholarships, recruiting and retention efforts, and community service.
UTSA’s Air Force ROTC program is part of the University College, which is also home to the Army ROTC and the Academic Inquiry and Scholarship, dual credit, multidisciplinary studies and the writing programs.
The AFROTC provides students the opportunity to combine military science and aerospace studies with practical leadership training, all while receiving a first-rate college education. The award-winning team works with 11 crosstown colleges and universities to build the next generation of Air Force and Space Force officers, scholars and community leaders.
UTSA is known for its commitment to supporting military-affiliated students, which make up nearly 16% of the student population. The university was most recently recognized as a 2022-23 Gold Military Friendly School and ranked among the nation’s top colleges that best serve military service members and veterans according to Military Times’ 2022 “Best for Vets” list.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
This academically rigorous mathematics-based summer enrichment program prepares middle and high school students for advanced studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Participants learn about problem-solving systems, develop greater awareness of STEM careers and strengthen their research skills.
UTSA Main CampusArchaeology 101 will introduce campers to archaeology and build on learned skills through experimental activities (like cave painting, weaving, and garbology).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusThe camp exposes rising high school juniors, rising seniors and incoming college freshman to the many facets of the criminal justice system. Students will have opportunities to learn the functions of police in society and apply scientific theories to criminal investigations by examining a mock crime scene.
UTSA Main CampusThe Academy for Teacher Excellence Research Center invites you to join us for the Summer Bridging Institute. This institute will focus on being lifelong growers and continually seeking to increase our skills as educators.
UTSA Downtown CampusArchaeology 201 will briefly go over the foundations of archaeology and related skills, followed by a different topic over the course of this week (like skeletal analysis, global cultures, and more).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusCraft a comic to create your own narrative and find your voice through storytelling. Participants will learn to create characters that are self-reflective and through a community lens.
REGSS Community Room (DB 3.202,) UTSA Downtown CampusCome enjoy a discussion on art as a self expression in the age of moving technology and telling your story with a community.
REGSS Community Room (DB 3.202,) 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.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
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 promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.