The University of Washington's Air Force ROTC program is among the best in the country - and it has the hardware to prove it.

The program (Detachment 910) was named the 2007 "Right of Line" Winner, an annual award handed out to the best large detachment in the nation. The award is something leadership within the detachment is still excited about, even three years later.

"It's like the Heisman Trophy of ROTC," said Capt. Ali Morgan, comparing the detachment's award with the prestigious trophy handed out each year to the top college football player in the country.

The award details an overall picture of excellence across the unit, said Morgan, the unit's admissions officer.

Part of building a solid base for the program is bringing in cadets who are a good match, Morgan said.

"It's easy to apply, but it's very difficult to stay," she said.

A cadet's requirements can range from five to six hours a week and include attending the program's required aerospace technology class, a leadership and team-building class and fulfilling various physical fitness requirements - in addition to a normal class load.

"It requires a lot of time management skills, and it runs the gamut as far as stress levels go," Morgan said.

The unit's 130 cadets come from various colleges across the Puget Sound area, as the detachment has arrangements with several area colleges, including Seattle Pacific, Seattle University, Green River Community College and University of Washington, Tacoma.

While some students initially think enrolling in the program is equaled to enlisting in the Air Force at a recruiter's office, it isn't.

There is a trial period when it comes to getting into the ROTC program, said Capt. Brenda Batan, the unit's education officer.

"It's a long process," she said.

Cadets usually try out the program their freshman and sophomore years before fully committing to the more strenuous junior and senior years.

In fact, only 25 percent of those who enter as a freshman actually commission, Batan said.

For those who do choose to stick with the program, there is plenty of coordination with unit leadership, including mandatory counseling every quarter and routine checks to see how the fitness requirements are progressing.

"There's a lot of face-to-face time with the cadets to better prepare them for active duty," Batan said.

Cadets don't have to choose from a list of majors that are specific to Air Force occupations ("You can major in whatever you like," Batan says), and the detachment's advisors work with them when it comes time to choose an Air Force career specialty.

"We want (cadets) to get the highest grades possible ... we're focused on the whole-person concept," Morgan said.