The West Virginia University Army ROTC program will be recognized as one of the most outstanding programs in the country.

U.S. Army Cadet Command (USACC), the parent organization of the Army ROTC program, in conjunction with the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation has awarded the WVU program two MacArthur Awards for the best overall and large-school battalion in the Eastern Region.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. W. Montague Winfield, USACC commanding general, will formally present the awards during the WVU Commencement Honors Convocation on May 16.

This is a tremendous honor, and we are very proud of the cadets and the whole staff within our program,said Lt. Col. Daniel Albert, commander of the WVU Army ROTC program and professor of military science.These awards further acknowledge the hard work, determination and pride from every member in our battalion. I am thankful for their efforts and the support we have received from the University.

Established in 1989, the MacArthur Awards recognize the most successful Army ROTC battalions based on hundreds of criteria including mission accomplishment, enrollment levels, retention rates and unit efficiency. The awards recognize performance among small, medium and large battalions along with one overall winner in two regions (Eastern and Western).

The WVU program was selected from 273 Army ROTC battalions nationwide as one of the most successful in accomplishing the primary mission of training and commissioning Army officers.

The awards recognize the individual units within the Army ROTC program that have achieved the standards that best represent the ideals of the watch words of �€~Duty, Honor, Countryas practiced by Gen. MacArthur,said retired Marine Corps Col. William J. Davis and executive director of the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation.

The Army ROTC program provides leadership development, management skills and military training for student-cadets. Since the program was established in 1916, more than 500,000 men and women graduates have become Army officers through the ROTC .

Through the WVU program, more than 250 cadets participate in military science courses, military skills and leadership training, earning over $2 million a year in scholarships toward their education.

For more information on the WVU Army ROTC program, visithttp://armyrotc.com/edu/wvauniv/index.htm