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Military college ranks high on Armys student merit list
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Among the best

North Georgia College & State University cadets who placed in the top 10 percent of the U.S. Army’s National Order of Merit List

  • Capt. Jessica Carlock, commander of F Company, of Lafayette
  • Lt. Col. Kevin Ahearn, commander of 2nd Battalion, of Chattanooga, Tenn.
  • Capt. Justin Middleton, of Roswell
  • 1st Lt. Colin Slep, of Clarkesville
  • Lt. Col. Nathan Turk, commander of 1st Battalion, of Flowery Branch
  • Capt. Mackenzie Eason, commander of B Company, of Fort Worth, Texas

North Georgia College & State University has more high-ranking students on the U.S. Army’s National Order of Merit List than any other U.S. senior military college.

More than 4,700 students in the nation’s 270 Army ROTC programs are ranked on the list. The North Georgia school is one of six senior military colleges in the country.

"We had more in the top 10 percent and the top 20 percent than any other senior military college," said North Georgia spokeswoman Kate Maine.

Six North Georgia cadets placed in the top 10 percent of the merit list, a school news release said. Eight other students ranked in the top 20 percent.

Cadet Jessica Carlock, commander of Foxtrot Company, is ranked No. 7 on the list and is the top-ranked cadet from North Georgia College & State.

"North Georgia cadets outperformed their peers from the all of the other senior military colleges," said military science professor Col. Michael Pyott in a release. "Of the senior
military colleges, the next highest on the Order of Merit List was a cadet from VMI at 36."

Cadets are ranked based on their performances at the Army’s Leadership Development Assessment Course at Fort Lewis, Wash., and on physical, fitness, campus leadership
performance and academic achievement.

Cadets’ rankings on the list help to determine their military assignments. Those who rank in the top 10 percent are guaranteed their first choice in duty assignments.

Cadets in the top 20 percent graduate as Distinguished Military Graduates, one of the highest honors an ROTC can achieve.