The Middle TN Chapter actively supports three ROTC Detachments in our geographic area: the Air Force ROTC Detachment at Tennessee State University, and the Army and the Navy ROTC Detachments at Vanderbilt University.
CDR Ted Edwards, USN (Retired) assumed responsibility for ROTC support effective 4 January 2022. One of the primary support activities that we provide is presentation of the MOAA Leadership Medal to outstanding Cadets/Midshipmen for each program during spring graduations. If you would be interested in participating in this program, please let CDR Ted Edwards know so that he can schedule accordingly for the ceremonies.
Award Ceremony schedules have not yet been determined for 2025.
MTC Supported Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Programs & Points of Contact (POC)
Antioch High School, 1900 Hobson Pike, Nashville, TN 7013; Army JROTC: POC: MSG Reynolds, USA (Ret.), (615) 641-5400, ext.2013
Centennial High School, 5050 Mallory Lane, Franklin, TN 37067; Army JROTC; POC: COL Tom McGrath, USA (Ret), Army Instructor, (615) 472-4286
Hickman County-Centerville High School, 1645 Bulldog Blvd, Centerville, TN 37033; POC: 1SG Riley, USA (Ret.), Sr. Army Instructor, (615) 729-2616, ext.238
Columbia Central High School, 921 Lion Parkway, Columbia, TN 38401; Navy JROTC, POC: Commander Scott Hanna, USN (Ret.), Naval Science Instructor, (931) 381-2222
Creekwood High School, 3499 State Highway TN-47, Charlotte, TN 37036; Army JROTC, POC: Major Buford Rachford, USA (Ret.), Sr. Army Instructor, (615) 740-6000
Dickson County High School, 509 Henslee Drive, Dickson, TN 37055; Army JROTC; POC: CPT Stephen Gerber, USA (Ret), Sr. Army Instructor, (615) 446-9003 ext.25704
Fairview High School 2595 Fairview Blvd, Fairview, TN 37062; Army JROTC POC: 1st Sgt Christopher Turk, USA (Ret.), Senior Army Instructor, (615) 472-4412
Franklin High School, 810 Hillsboro Road, Franklin, TN 37064; Army JROTC; POC: Daniel Moore, USA (Ret.), Senior Army Instructor, (615) 472-4450, ext.3455
Independence High School, 1776 Declaration Way, Thompson Station, TN 37179; Army JROTC;POC: Major Jay Massey, USA (Ret.), Senior Army Instructor, (615) 472-4600, ext.4619
Page High School, 6281 Arno Road, Franklin, TN 37064; Army JROTC POC: Colonel Eric Goslowsky, USA (Ret.), Sr. Army Instructor, (615) 472-4749
Ravenwood High School, 1724 Wilson Pike, Brentwood, TN 37027; Army JROTC; POC: Chief Warrant Officer4 Rus Hayes, USA (Ret.), Sr. Army Instructor, (615) 472-4800, ext.1237
Spring Hill High School, 1 Raider Lane, Columbia, TN 38401; Army JROTC: POC: LTC Jackson, USA (Ret), Sr. Army Instructor, (615) 499-0127
* Note - There are other JROTC Programs in the area that are serviced by other MOAA Chapters (General Andrew Jackson Chapter supports the Hunters Lane High School Army JROTC, Lebanon High School Army JROTC, McGavock High School USAF JROTC, Mt. Juliet High School USMC JROTC, and Wilson Central High School USN JROTC. The Stones River MOAA Chapter supports the Murfreesboro High Schools, as well as Coffee County High School Army JROTC and Tullahoma USMC JROTC. The Sumner County MOAA Chapter supports the Springfield Hich School Air Force JROTC as well as several other programs.)
MOAA ROTC/Junior ROTC Award Program
General Information
The presentation of a MOAA ROTC/JROTC award is an excellent way for chapters to gain exposure in the community and, at the same time, foster a positive military recognition among the youth of the community. Accordingly, it has always been the desire of MOAA national that the medals are awarded by the local chapter and not the national organization.
All of the military services that sponsor senior or junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs (i.e., the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps) have officially approved the MOAA ROTC medal.
It is still the desire and intent of the national association to preserve, insofar as possible, the original concept of the MOAA ROTC medal as an award of a local chapter, not the national organization.
The program is entirely voluntary; no MOAA chapter is under any obligation to award MOAA ROTC medals to ROTC and/or JROTC units in its locality.
In the event that (1) there is not a MOAA chapter in the vicinity of an ROTC or JROTC unit or (2) the nearest chapter to an ROTC or JROTC unit is for any reason unwilling to sponsor the award, national headquarters will upon request provide a MOAA ROTC medal directly to the unit commander for presentation.
Guidelines for the ROTC medal:
1. AWARD - Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) ROTC medal.
2. DESCRIPTION - The award consists of a red, white and blue ribbon 1 and 3/8 inches in width with a bronze disc pendant 1 and 5/8 inches in diameter and a matching service ribbon (these items are in a presentation case), a certificate of presentation and certificate folder.
3. PURPOSE - The purpose of the MOAA ROTC medal is to recognize an outstanding ROTC cadet or midshipman or JROTC cadet in his next-to-last year in the program, who shows exceptional potential for military leadership (exceptional academic achievement in the case of the Marine Corps JROTC Program). The medal may not be used for any other purpose.
4. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA - The cadet or midshipman must:
a. Be in the next-to-last year of the ROTC or JROTC program (customarily in his junior year of college or high school).
b. Be in good academic standing.
c. Be of high moral character.
d. Evince a high order of loyalty to his unit, school and country.
e. Show exceptional potential for military leadership.
5. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE MARINE CORPS JROTC PROGRAM - Somewhat different eligibility criteria apply to the Marine Corps JROTC Program. In that program the cadet must:
a. Be in the upper 10 percent of his high school class.
b. Have an "A" average in MCJROTC academic subjects.
c. Be holding a cadet officer billet.
d. Be nominated in his junior year.
6. NUMBER OF AWARDS - No more than one award may be made each year in any one ROTC or JROTC unit. Also, while the awards packages are provided free of charge, chapters should ONLY request the number of medals actually needed for the current school year. Chapters are asked NOT to STOCKPILE the medals!
7. SPONSORSHIP - Normally, the award is sponsored by an individual MOAA chapter in the same geographic area as the ROTC or JROTC unit. However, if there is no MOAA chapter in the vicinity of an ROTC or JROTC unit or if the nearest chapter to an ROTC or JROTC unit is for any reason unwilling to sponsor the award, the national association will upon request sponsor the award itself.
8. REQUEST BY UNIT COMMANDERS - A unit commander may request the award from the nearest local chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. A chapter locator is available online.
9. PROCUREMENT OF MEDALS - If your program is sponsored by the Middle TN Chapter, MOAA, or by another MOAA Chapter then you should order your Medal set from that Chapter as early as you can. MOAA chapter sponsoring one or more units usualyy only order enough Medal sets to cover the programs they support, so if you are not on a supported list the Chapter will need some additional time in orde to ensure that the Medal set and Certificate are ordered and personalized prior to presentation. Award sets include the medal, certificate of presentation and certificate folder.
10. SELECTION - The recipient is selected by the unit commander. However, when an award is being sponsored by a local chapter, final approval rests with the chapter.
11. PRESENTATION - The presentation is normally made by a representative of the sponsoring chapter. If the award is not sponsored by a local chapter, the unit commander may designate a person, preferably a member of Military Officers Association of America, to make the presentation.