Student becomes first U.S. Air Force ROTC cadet to earn award

Cole Jorgensen has become the first U.S. Air Force ROTC cadet at South Dakota State University to earn the prestigious Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement.

The Legion of Valor, an association of those whose valor has been recognized with the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross or Air Force Cross, recognizes outstanding Air Force ROTC cadets by awarding the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement.

The Hartford junior is one of only four Air Force ROTC cadets in the nation to receive the award. The award recognizes one outstanding incoming senior cadet in each Air Force ROTC region who has demonstrated excellence in military and academic performance.

Each nominee must be in the upper 10 percent of both the AS 300 class and the school department class ranking and possess demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities. There are 34 detachments in the Northwest Region to which SDSU belongs.

Jorgensen, a 2013 West Central High School graduate, carries a 3.6 GPA in mechanical engineering. During field training in summer 2015, he was named the distinguished graduate for his flight, and he has received leadership awards throughout his three years in ROTC as well as scoring above 98 percent in his physical fitness testing.

The award symbolizing all-around achievement was presented Sept. 1 in front of the entire cadet wing at the first leadership lab of the school year by Lt. Col. Craig McCuin, commander for Detachment 780.

“I was very humbled. I feel I am following the example that cadets set before me, and I’m hoping I can do the same for other students,” Jorgensen said.

He said his academic motivation “goes back to the way my mom raised me — doing the best you can do. I still call her after tests. She is always upset if I didn’t study as hard as I could have.”

Eventually he hopes to call his mom with news that he got a pilot slot. But that is a ways off. He doesn’t graduate until May 2018.

McCuin called Jorgensen “a first-class leader in the university, community and cadet wing. Cole continues to develop himself through self-discipline and hard work and ensures his peers are improving as well in their studies and in the cadet wing. He is going to be a superb Air Force officer upon graduating from SDSU.”

Jorgensen’s parents are Dawn Jorgensen, Tim Vilhauer and Brad Jorgensen, all of Hartford.