Floyd cadet earns national award

William Floyd High School senior Anthony Auciello, the executive officer in the school’s NJROTC, has been selected to receive the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement ROTC award, one of the top recognitions that high school and college ROTC cadets can receive. Auciello is one of just 22 cadets out of more than 80,000 ROTC cadets nationwide to receive this honor this year and one of only two in the NJROTC Area 4, which is comprised of 57 units in 10 northeastern United States, as well as units abroad. This is the second consecutive year that a William Floyd NJROTC cadet has been selected for this honor and the fourth time in WFHS history.

 

The Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement ROTC Award is a national award given annually by the Legion of Valor of the United States of America to cadets who demonstrate excellence in military and academic subjects selected by a committee of decorated veterans who have received such awards as the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross and Air Force Cross. Nominees are considered on several stringent qualifications including extracurricular activities and leadership abilities.

 

William Floyd NJROTC Commander Christian Gaskill described Cadet Auciello as an individual that has the qualities that are sought after in an ROTC cadet. “I would put him against anyone in the country for his leadership and character,” he said.

 

Cadet Auciello, who said he is “honored” to receive this award out of so many cadets nationwide, has excelled in his time at William Floyd High School participating in NJROTC (four years), National Honor Society (three years), winter and spring track (four years) and cross country (three years). He has attended the summer Leadership Academy and Sail Training, which gives the top NJROTC students in the region the opportunity to hone their leadership skills and learn about seamanship. He also excels academically and is currently ranked in the top 10 percent of the graduating class of 2020.

 

After graduation, Cadet Auciello plans on attending a four-year college to study aviation science and aeronautics. At college, he plans on participating in the Air Force ROTC program with the goal of becoming an Air Force pilot.

 

Auciello is the fourth cadet in William Floyd history to receive this award putting him in the company of fellow recipients Xander Shirley, (WF Class of 2019), who earned a full scholarship to SUNY Maritime College to study electrical engineering, Jeffrey Gao (WF Class of 2013), a U.S. Naval Academy alumnus who is currently at Navy Flight School and recently completed his first solo flight, and Sara Tartaglione (WF Class of 2012), who is currently a Navy nurse stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.