Previous Story
Manta Ray JROTC team off to Kentucky for nationals
|
Posted on Mar 30 2012
The 16-member group of the Saipan Southern High School JROTC Team flew to Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday to represent the CNMI and the region in the U.S. Army Cadet Command JROTC National Drill Championship.
The Manta Ray cadets were named champions of the 8th Brigade Cadet Command Inaugural Drill Meet for the Western Region that was held in California in February.
SSHS vice principal Jocelyn Manibusan told Saipan Tribune yesterday that the group is being accompanied by principal Jesse Tudela and the school’s army instructors, Leonardo Rabago and Joaquin Kiyoshi. Also joining the trip is Board of Education member Lucy Blanco-Maratita.
An all-expense paid trip by the U.S. Army, the CNMI team is expected to demonstrate their skills in drill exhibitions against teams from across the nation. Competition proper will occur in Louisville on Sunday, Saipan time.
Like their successful performance in the competition in California, Manibusan is confident that the Manta Ray group will continue to bring honor to the Commonwealth.
The SSHS team was among the three drill teams that represented PSS and the Western Pacific region during last month’s regional contest. Others in the region are Guam, South Korea, and Japan
Manibusan said this is the first time that a CNMI JROTC Team will participate at the national level. The group is scheduled to return on Tuesday night.
The JROTC program has rapidly grown into one of the most popular and appreciated programs in the CNMI’s educational system. Each year, the system has noted significant growth in the program that is offered at five secondary schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
Besides its JROTC Team, SSHS will also send in August its popular Manta Ray Band to the Summer Olympics in London to perform. Today, Manibusan said the group’s Golf Tournament Fundraiser will kick off at 6am at the Coral Ocean Point. The school targets to raise additional funds for their upcoming trip.
A 25-member team from the SSHS was also recently selected as the CNMI’s delegates to the national congressional mock trial competition to be held in Washington, D.C. on April 27.
