MHS student in JROTC headed to US Army

Recipients of the annual Marianas High School Dolphin Battalion JROTC awards pose for a group photo after the awards ceremony last Friday at the MHS Cafeteria. (Jon Perez)

The Marianas High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps battalion commander is headed off to Fort Jackson, South Carolina this August after being presented numerous awards in the schools’ 2017 JROTC awarding last Friday.

A total of 16 awards were given to about 28 students of the schools’ Dolphin Battalion in this year’s school’s awarding.

MHS battalion commander Chekaina Coloma is headed for U.S. Army training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina this August, right after graduation. According to Coloma, who received the Distinguished Cadet Award, the Military Officers Association of America Award, and the Excellent Staff Award, her plans to serve in the Army has been in the works since her freshman year in MHS.

“Ever since I was a freshman, I [really thought] about enlisting in the Army, so in my 17th birthday, I went straight into enlisting,” said Coloma.

Coloma said she enlisted in the Army because “the thought of serving my country made me want to enlist.”

For those still sitting on the fence about enlisting for the military, Coloma encourages them to think of the opportunities during and after enlisting in the military.

“[You] should not let that slip by,” Coloma told Saipan Tribune. “There are so many great opportunities in the military.”

Coloma would be serving in the Army, active duty.

There were numerous awards given out besides the ones Coloma received. The Superior Cadet Award was given to outstanding cadets in each leadership, education, and training levels, or LET levels. Freshmen are taught at LET level 1, sophomores at LET level 2, and so on.

LET 1 recipient was Cdt. Louwie Farro, Cdt. Bernadette Javier for LET 2, Cdt. Renaleen Sangcap for LET 3, and Cdt. Christian Oh for LET 4.

The Essence of the Military Order of the Purple Heart is a demonstration of a high degree of leadership—an ability Cdt. Mackenzie Perez displayed throughout the academic year. Perez also serves as a student correspondent for Saipan Tribune.

The Distinguished Cadet Award is awarded to cadets who exhibit the highest degree of experience in scholastics in all fields of study. The awards went to Cdt. Shiera Abadilla, Cdt. Angela Arcega, Cdt. Donald Pangelinan, and BATCOM Coloma.

The Military Order of World Wars, an award given to outstanding cadets for both military and scholastic excellence, was presented to Cdt. Rico Reyes.

Recipients of the American Legion awards were Cdt. Charisse Ramos and Cdt. Isabel Palacios. The American Legion Award is awarded to outstanding cadets for both military and scholastic excellence.

Cdt. Jackylyn Batu, recipient of the National Sojourners award, received the award because of her contributions to encourage Americanism within both the Corps of Cadets and the school campus.

The Military Officers Association of America award recognizes Cdt. Chekaina Coloma as an outstanding cadet who has demonstrated exceptional potential for military leadership and a high degree of loyalty to the unit, school, and country.

The Reserve Officers Association Award went to Cdt. Maya David in recognition of her outstanding achievement and exceptional leadership ability.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post commander Michael O’Kelley presented Cdt. John Delos Reyes with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Award in recognition of his outstanding achievements and exceptional leadership ability, patriotism, and outstanding military conduct in and out of uniform.

Cdt. Kaela Valencia received the Dedalian Achievement Award from the order of the Daedalians, a fraternity of commissioned military pilots from all military services organized after World War I to perpetuate the spirit of patriotism, love of country, and those high ideals of self sacrifice.

The Commendation Award recognized Cdt. Austin Aldan, Cdt. Jesse Chlarson, Cdt. Donald Pangelinan, Cdt. Kevin Aldan, and Cdt. Reaven Jei Cruz for their performance of duty exceptionally exceeding expectations of cadets in their grade and experience.

The Citizenship Award recognized the outstanding contributions and achievements in the pursuit of exemplary American citizenship of Cdt. Novell Dico, Cdt. Moises Belza, and Cdt. Aisllah May Williams.

The last award, the Excellent Staff Performance Award, was given to primary members of the Dolphin Battalions’ staff for their hard work and dedication to the team throughout the academic year. Cdt. Chekaina Coloma, Cdt. Samuel Borja, Cdt. John Delos Reyes, Cdt. Christian Oh, Cdt. Kaela Valencia, and Cdt. Renaleen Sangcapp received the award.