Local lad gets two awards in naval school

One of CNMI’s own cadet at the Naval Academy Preparatory School continues to make the Commonwealth proud after being commended for his outstanding performance at the academy.

Midshipmen candidate Jun Vicente Chong was recently conferred two awards—the Honor Person Award and the Superintendent’s Award—marking him out for his consistent efforts in his training.

The Honor Person Award is given to six individuals out of the whole battalion and is intended to recognize those outstanding individuals in each platoon whose overall performance has been exceptional. Midshipman candidates so recognized will be those who are most representative of the highest standards of the school.

The criteria for selection includes personal conduct, personal appearance, military performance that reflects the highest levels of reliability, integrity, judgment, effort and attitude expected of an outstanding midshipman candidate, sports and extracurricular activity, and satisfactory academic performance.

At the end of every marking period, the students of each platoon will nominate three of their peers for Platoon Honor Person. Each individual’s record will be reviewed by the Battalion Officer and further recommendations made to the Commanding Officer for final selection.

Chong made the final cut and, as a reward, he and the five others chosen shall wear the Honor Aiguillette, and not stand duty for the next marking period.

Chong was also awarded the Superintendent’s Award, which is given to midshipmen candidates with a GPA of 3.75 or higher at the end of the marking period. Students receiving the Superintendent’s Award shall wear the Silver Star above their name tags.

Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio praised Chong’s accomplishment, saying the CNMI should be proud of “this outstanding and dedicated young man.”

“Jun Chong continues to show outstanding performance in a very competitive military school, and I am sure that our people will find the report of his current activities very encouraging and admirable as I do.…As his appointing official to the academy, I am extremely pleased with his accomplishment so far,” said Tenorio.

In a letter to Tenorio, Chong updated the official of his activities at the preparatory school:

“Greetings and hada dai! As promised, I will give you an update on what has been going on here at the Naval Academy Preparatory School. On Dec. 5, we went as a battalion to watch the ’04 Army Navy Game! It was quite a show with jets and helicopters passing over the stadium just above us. Skyboarders representing the Army and the Navy Seals jumped off from their planes and skyboarded down to the stadium with pink and blue smoked streaks behind their boards. President George Bush was present, and he flew over the stadium on the famed Air Force One. It was a great experience to meet the President and have him watch the game with us. The game was loud with cheers and bands from West Point and the Naval Academy. The pride of the Army and the Navy can be felt through their cheers! After a long battle, the game ended with the Navy winning 43-13.

“Our Christmas Break begins on Dec. 22 and marks the end of half of our school year. Marking Period One has ended, and we are currently halfway on Marking Period Two.

“The school year is getting shorter and shorter each day, and I regret that the school years are short. NAPS is like a second home. You have a platoon and battalion of family, each willing to give their lives up for you. The best part of the day at NAPS is Athletic Period, where everyone gets together and play sports, lift weights, work out, swim, or go running around the base. It’s a time where everyone can relieve their stresses from the day and build stronger relationships with everyone from the battalion. I know that I will miss these moments, and regret that the mark for half of the school year is coming real soon…,” said Chong.”