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JROTC helps in character building
The Chamorro Buck Battalion of Rota’s Dr. Rita H. Inos Junior Senior High School competes in the Unarmed Inspection event of last Saturday’s CNMI Public School System Multiple School Unit JROTC Drill Meet at the Marianas High School grounds. (Jon Perez)
Command Sergeant Major Richard Basa commended the hard work and dedication shown by all the cadets that competed in last Saturday’s CNMI Public School System Multiple School Unit JROTC Drill Meet at the Marianas High School grounds.
Saipan Southern High School’s Manta Ray Battalion and the Chamorro Buck Battalion of Rota’s Dr. Rita H. Inos Junior Senior High School each ruled the armed and unarmed events of the competition, which is celebrating JROTC’s 100th year.
“Cadets learn about discipline and teamwork with the drills while also helping them build their character, which are foundations of becoming a leader,” Basa told Saipan Tribune.
“Their leadership skills arise during formation and drill practice. These are future leaders in training,” he added.
The Manta Ray Battalion topped the Armed Exhibition and Platoon Regulation, and the Armed and Unarmed Inspection events, while placing second in the Armed Color Guard and Unarmed Platoon Regulation, and third in the Unarmed Exhibition. They were declared the Overall winners in the Armed events.
The Chamorro Buck Battalion, the overall Unarmed champions, topped the Armed Color Guard, and Unarmed Platoon Regulation and Unarmed Exhibition events, while finishing second in the Unarmed and Armed Inspection, Unarmed Color Guard, and Armed Platoon Regulation.
SSHS and RHS will be competing in the Golden Bear West Coast National Meet in Torrance, California. This won’t be the first time that the Manta Ray and Chamorro Buck battalions will be competing in the nationals as they also represented the CNMI in the past.
The Manta Ray Battalion is representing the CNMI for the fourth straight year since 2013, while the Chamorro Buck Battalion competed in 2012 when the Commonwealth first joined in Kentucky.
Basa said they decided to transfer to the Golden Bear nationals for easier travel from the CNMI to the West Coast.
Tinian Junior Senior High School’s Stallion Battalion was the Unarmed Color Guard winners and came in second in the Armed and Unarmed Exhibition events, while placing third in the Armed Color Guard, and Armed and Unarmed Inspection categories.
The Ayuyu Battalion of Kagman High School finished third in the Unarmed Color Guard, Armed and Unarmed Platoon Regulation, and Armed Exhibition. The Dolphin Battalion of Marianas High School was the other team that competed.
“Competition was tough and all of their skills improved. The important thing is everyone had fun, even for the teams that did not win. Just come back strong in time for next year,” said Basa.
