Air Force honors cadet of the year Published April 18, 2006 By Senior Airman J.G. Buzanowski Air Force Print News WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The Air Force honored its 2005 Cadet of the Year at a ceremony in the Pentagon April 17. The honoree, 2nd Lt. Janelle Jenniges, is a graduate of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 465. “She’s the top graduate out of all our commissioning sources,” said Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, assistant vice chief of staff. “Every time she gets an opportunity, she moves to the front. She’s the kind of spirited person we want in our Air Force.” Lieutenant Jenniges graduated with a cumulative 3.95 grade-point average, graduating in the top 3 percent of her class, and scored 97.5 out of 100 possible points on the AFROTC physical fitness exam. She earned several other academic awards and served as the Det. 465 operations group commander. She was also selected to attend jump school at the Air Force Academy and earned her jump wings, General Lichte said. “When I was young, my parents always pushed me to do my best,” Lieutenant Jenniges said. “I knew I wouldn’t be happy with myself, so I always made sure I was giving my best effort. I’m very much honored by this.” The lieutenant is currently attending technical training school at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., where she is learning to apply her degree in meteorology and climatology as an Air Force weather forecaster. “I remember in one of our first meetings, she said she didn’t know if she wanted to be a weather officer or a pilot, so she decided she’d do everything she could to qualify for both,” said Col. Robert Tovado, Det. 465 commander. Once her training is complete, she’ll head to Sembach Air Base, Germany, to join the 21st Operational Weather Squadron. The award’s formal name, the British Air Squadron Cadet of the Year Award, was established in 2000 by the private British Air Squadron organization in tribute to the U.S. military’s support of the United Kingdom. Recipients of the award receive the Millennium Sword, which is kept on permanent display in the Pentagon and serves as a symbol of the enduring British-American friendship. Lord James Revelstoke, a representative of the British Air Squadron, spoke on behalf of the organization.