On January 27th, 2026, our local AFJROTC unit (Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps), Unit NJ-761, had its annual unit inspection, which checks and inspects AFJROTC units to make sure they are perfectly disciplined as an AFJROTC cadets. This year’s inspection, students officially earned an “Exceeds Standards” rating (the highest honor that can be earned for AFJROTC units) and impressed Piscataway with their performance. It is the first time in this Unit’s history that it has earned this honor with the regional director of AFJROTC, Mr James Garcia.
A closer look on inspection day
Prior to inspection, both squadrons participated in a “mass formation” practice in the Anthony Common the week before the inspection, making sure all cadets were prepared properly for inspection. On the day of inspection, the entire NJ-761 unit at the high school, both Alpha and Bravo squadrons were called down to the Anthony Gym to go their respective squadron. After everything was ready for inspection, the respective squadron leaders formed their squadrons and marched them into place in front of Mr Garcia ready for inspection with precision.
The inspection went well, as there were barely any cadets that had mistakes. The squadron leaders made their squadrons fall out and sit down on the bleachers for two special performances. First was the 30 Step Performance, which consisted of a small group of cadets who was in their second year of AFJROTC carry out a brief performance of drill movements without any error. Then came the Color Guard, commanded by Cadet Major Koragunji, who led the Color Guard to excel in performance.
After that, Mr Garcia finally gave his congratulations to all the cadets that participated in Unit Inspection. But then Mr Garcia gave awards out to the most outstanding cadets who went beyond for this inspection, he gave the Top Performer ribbons to the Group Commander, Cadet Colonel Essha Patel, the Alpha Squadron Commander, Cadet Major Jadamarie Owens, and the Bravo Squadron Commander, Cadet Major Koragunji, along with an additional challenge coin for Owens. What makes this performance outstanding then ever before in this Unit’s history is that the Top Performer Ribbon is awarded to a rare 2% of the entire corp’s population which is an incredible feat for this unit that has completed that task effortlessly.
What Next?
Since the NJ-761 unit has managed to exceed in their inspection and performance, the unit has been declared eligible for a Distinguished Unit Award along with several other awards that will all be announced in and by calculating the service hours of the cadets which is a minimum 18 service hours to graduate, to determine who can be named for the top honors in this unit. So this unit now has a bright future, and it will still put in the hard work to get the service hours it needs for the cadets to obtain this award, and the unit is also in the ballpark for the awards.
From the successful hard working cadets in January’s annual JROTC unit drill competition at PHS, to the cadets excelling in performance for this unit, nothing now seems impossible for this unit. With outstanding cadets and strong leadership roles, the future for NJ-761 is bright as long as cooperation, leadership, and effort, exist in this unit.
