The McAllen High School JROTC program has earned a special recognition, known as Honor Unit with Distinction, following a recent review of the entire program.
Inspectors from Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio evaluated the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program on March 25.
“I am humbled and honored to report that your Bulldog Battalion has passed its triannual inspection (known as the JROTC Program for Accreditation or JPA) with a 99 percent (score),” Leonard Cianciotto, Lieutenant Colonel, US Army, Retired and Senior Army JROTC Instructor at McAllen High, said. “I’m grateful for the support we enjoy here, especially to our wonderful counselors and administration who help sustain our efforts in helping young people achieve their potential; our fellow faculty with whom we work together towards the same goal; and to our parents for their faith in us as we help mentor their children.”
An “Honor Unit with Distinction” (HUD) is the highest rating an Army JROTC program can receive, representing the top 10–15 percent of units nationwide. It signifies exceptional performance in leadership, training, and unit maintenance, usually requiring a score of 95 percent or higher on the triennial JROTC Program of Accreditation (JPA) inspection.
Key Aspects of the Honor Unit with Distinction:
· The Gold Star: Cadets in these units wear a gold star on their uniform, which sets them apart from other units.
· Academy Nominations: Senior Army Instructors (SAI) at these units can nominate qualified cadets for appointments to military service academies (e.g., West Point, Annapolis and the Air Force Academy), an advantage reserved for top-tier units.
· Rigorous Evaluation: Units are evaluated every 3 years on cadet-led briefings, portfolios, drill, uniform appearance, cadet knowledge and instructor compliance.
· This distinction demonstrates a unit's high standards and dedication to producing skilled student leaders.
Cianciotto also thanked his assistant, Sergeant First Class (ret.) Benito Contreras, for his efforts in guiding the program. The distinction is good for the next three years.
Multiple student leaders participated in helping the program earn the award. These included: Battalion Commander Derek Toscano, Battalion Executive Officer Ronaldo Lara, Command Sergeant Major Kayla Bujanos, Personnel Officer Edwin Flores, Operations Officer Austin Wong, Logistics Officer Daniel Cuesta, Public Affairs Officer Xiamara Mendez, Drill Team Commander Delila Nerri, Service-Learning Presenter Aaralyn Bazan. Other students interviewed by inspectors included Anjelica Maya, Romeo Bernal, Francisco Castillo, Caleb Williams, Salvador Coronado, Jacqueline Jaime, Juan Chavez, Luis Prichard, Ronaldo Lara and Miquel Hinojosa.
CAPTION FOR PHOTOS
Members of the McAllen High JROTC program stand at attention while undergoing inspection for the program's JROTC Program for Accreditation on March 25, 2026. Officials from Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio named the program an Honor Unit with Distinction. The designation is good for the next three years.