FSU Air Force ROTC cadet honored with Legion of Valor Award
鈥淭his makes me remember why I joined ROTC鈥 to do something bigger, to make myself proud,鈥 said 糖心vlog student Madison Baird.
Baird, a cadet with , has earned national recognition for her excellence in military and academic performance.
Late last year, Baird was awarded the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement during FSU Air Force ROTC鈥檚 Change of Command Ceremony held at the Marching Chiefs Field. The Legion of Valor, the oldest military service organization in the United States, selects one outstanding cadet from each of the four regions of the country to receive the award.
The Legion of Valor鈥檚 Bronze Cross for Achievement program was first launched in 1951 to recognize excellence among the Washington High School Corps of Cadets and evolved into a nationally sponsored program by 1957.
鈥淐adet Baird leads by example and epitomizes the Air Force core values,鈥 said Air Force Col. Rodney Singleton, the detachment鈥檚 commander. 鈥淪he is absolutely deserving of the Legion of Valor Award.鈥
Baird has maintained a 3.65 GPA while double-majoring in and , landed on the Dean鈥檚 List five times, and netted six ROTC Academic Awards. She has held various cadet administrative and leadership positions in the detachment, including general military course liaison, general military course adviser deputy, recruiting deputy, flight non-commissioned officer, field training preparation deputy flight commander, flight deputy, and cadet wing commander. Baird also scored 100 on her physical fitness assessment, receiving the designation 鈥渇it to fight,鈥 and has earned the ROTC Fitness Award half a dozen times.
Baird first joined AFROTC in 2016 as a freshman, inspired by the personal growth and maturity she witnessed in her sisters, both of whom count themselves among FSU Air Force ROTC鈥檚 alumni.
鈥淚 began to see that as I started putting more effort into ROTC, I got a lot back,鈥 Baird said. 鈥淚 realized how I was growing as a person.鈥
鈥淐adet Baird has done remarkable things in this program,鈥 Singleton said. 鈥淪he was selected as No. 1 of 26 cadets in my detachment, but the fact that she won this award signifies that she was also the top cadet in the southeast region, which consists of about 38 detachments and 4,800 cadets in total.鈥
Baird said although she was honored to receive the award, the greatest reward of all is the continued support she has received from her peers.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the journey that it took and how many people helped me. I just want to do my best in everything and it鈥檚 wonderful to get recognition, but I鈥檓 just here for those that are with me.鈥
Baird is set to be commissioned onto active duty in the Air Force after graduating this spring.