3 MHS juniors enlist in National Guard’s ‘split ops’ training

Marianas High School juniors Phil Sai Gases, third from left; Eitmam Chowdhury, fourth from right; and Joshua Jacela, second from right, are the first high school students from Saipan to enlist in the Guam Army National Guard’s split training option. They were sworn in last April 13 at the Guam Army National Guard Readiness Center in Barrigada and were joined by their family members. The oath was administered by LTC Stephen Warren, right, and was joined by SFC Jonathan Peñaflor, left. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

BARRIGADA, Guam—Three 17-year-old juniors from Marianas High School are the first students from Saipan to have enlisted in the Guam Army National Guard’s split training option.

Classmates Phil Sai Gases, Eitmam Chowdhury, and Joshua Jacela took their oath last April 13 at the Guam Army National Guard Readiness Center in Barrigada and were joined by their family members. The oath was administered by LTC Stephen Warren and they were joined by SFC Jonathan Penaflor.

In this split training option—or “split ops” for short—it allows students 17-years-old (with permissions from parents/guardians) to enlist in the National Guard. They will finish their junior year, then attend Basic Combat Training during the summer before their senior year.

On their return for their senior year, they will train one weekend a month, then after their high school graduation, they will attend Advanced Individual Training and train for their National Guard job.

Gases, who is enlisted as an 11B or infantryman, said he joined because he wants to better himself and prepare for the responsibilities of adulthood, as well as to take advantage of the benefits of the army and the early jumpstart in his career. “Honestly, I’m looking forward to serving my country on top of bettering myself as a person,” he said.

Chowdhury, who enlisted as a 92G or culinary specialist, said, “I joined the Army mostly because I wanted to go to college and make my parents proud. I also wanted to ensure my future, get all the benefits of being in the Army, and do all the hard work now so that when I’m an adult, everything will be simple.”

He added that on the day of his enlistment, “I felt many different things that day. I think I was mostly nervous because I was actually taking an oath to serve in the Army and because I’m getting more and more responsibilities in my life. As of right now, I’m looking forward to finishing basic training and getting good grades in my junior and senior years of high school.”

Jacela, also a 92G, said he is looking forward to the new experiences the Army can give him. “The reason for my enlistment was to better myself and for my future. I heard about this through a friend and from the JROTC [Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps] program [at] MHS. At first it felt very intense at the beginning of the ceremony but after we swore in, I felt really good about myself,” he said.

Their recruiter, SSG Doris Parr, said, “I am just honored and truly proud to have been able to assist them in the process, knowing and being part of the process of them taking that big step into something that will not only benefit them now but in the future as our next greatest generation for our island and country! I am not just here for the start but to see them through all the way!”

For those interested in joining or for more information, contact Parr at (671)929-7320.