CNMI JROTC cadets win awards at national drill meet

The schools representing the CNM—Saipan Southern High School and Marianas High School—did exceptionally well, bringing home a total of 14 trophies, including the Army Traveling Trophy. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS)

Congratulations to Saipan Southern High School’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Drill Team for achieving yet another significant accomplishment by representing the CNMI at the Golden Bear West Coast National Drill Meet in Torrance, California.

For the first time in history, both Saipan Southern High School’s Unarmed and Armed teams were able to fly out together to compete in the varsity division, representing the CNMI against 35 other high schools across the West Coast. This was a significant achievement for Saipan Southern High School as this was their first time to send both teams to the competition. The school has already sent several teams to the competition, but it was usually just one team.

In addition, Marianas High School’s Unarmed Team also competed in the same competition, but in the novice division.

The schools representing the CNMI did exceptionally well, bringing home a total of 14 trophies, including the Army Traveling Trophy, which was also won last year by Saipan Southern High School’s Unarmed team, alongside Marianas High School’s Armed team.

“This year’s success was a great achievement for the CNMI schools, and it demonstrated their competitive abilities in this prestigious national competition,” said a news release from the JROTC program. “Saipan Southern High School’s representation of CNMI in the nationals for the second consecutive time has been a fantastic experience for all the cadets and instructors involved, who played a significant role in achieving the team’s incredible accomplishments this year.”

Cadet Capt. Amandus Malentino, Saipan Southern High School’s Unarmed exhibition commander, said their participation in the national competition has been an amazing experience.

“I’d like to thank my team for making it to every practice day we had and for giving their all. Thank you for committing yourselves to this team and making this far. I am so beyond proud of us all. This victory is ours. Cherish every moment you create because it all just happens so fast,” he said.

The teams show off their trophies upon arriving back on Saipan.

The team’s success came about after over eight months of intense training and countless practice sessions.

“I am immensely proud of our Unarmed and Armed teams for their outstanding performances at the Golden Bear National Championships. Their hard work, dedication, and teamwork paid off, and it’s an honor to witness their achievements representing our school and the [CNMI] on a national stage,” said SFC (Ret.) Deynarose Sunderland, SSHS Army instructor.

The SSHS JROTC news release thanks their supporters and parents: Board of Education member SGM Herman Atalig, Education Commissioner Dr. Alfred Ada, Associate Commissioner Eric Magofna, Senior Director of Student Service and Support Dr. Yvonne Pangelinan, and SSHS principal Vince Dela Cruz, among others.

“On behalf of the Saipan Southern High School JROTC Drill Team cadets, we’d like to thank our Senior Army instructor, CSM (Ret.) Richard Basa and our Army instructor, SFC (Ret.) Deynarose Sunderlan,d for their never ending support and for constantly pushing us cadets to strive for nothing but excellence,” it added. (PR)