MHS wins JROTC state drill competition

Marianas High School emerged as this year’s champion in the 5th Annual Inter-Island Drill Competition, besting four other school teams during the contest held Saturday at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Lower Base.

More than 350 students participated in the intense three-hour competition that featured six competitive events: unarmed regulation drill, armed regulation drill, color guard regulation, color guard saber, armed exhibition and unarmed exhibition.

MHS was also the recipient of special awards for fancy drill and exhibition rifle categories. MHS entered an 80-member team that competed in all six categories.

The school’s battalion commander, Arielle Itibus, said their hard work finally paid off.

“We’re glad that we made it! I can say that all our hard work and practices after school every day has paid off. I am so proud of the team,” she told Saipan Tribune.

Itibus said Saturday’s event would serve as a one of her memorable years with the team. The battalion commander, after four years of competing for MHS, would be completing high school this year.

“These awards bring the battalion members closer to one another,” she said, adding that the annual contest motivates each team to give a better performance every year.

Named overall second best team was the Saipan Southern High School, which also bagged two special awards in unarmed and armed drill competition. The group was headed by its commander, Kathlene Pagara.

The 27-member team from Rota High School, led by battalion commander John Ayuyu, emerged third best battalion and was named best in color guard saber competition.

Fourth placer Kagman High School was an awardee in the color guard rifle competition, while the Tinian High School team won fifth place. KHS’ battalion commander was Jessica Babauta, while Terilynn Taisacan led the Tinian delegation.

According to CNMI JROTC program director and the event’s keynote speaker, Lt. Col. Robert Gay, Saturday’s event was the program’s biggest competition in the Commonwealth so far.

Like the recently concluded spring camp on Saipan, Gay said the annual drill aims to promote unity and teamwork among students.

PSS, he said, covered the expenses for cadets from Rota and Tinian to ensure their participation in the annual event.

Education commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan and members of the Education Board were among the event’s special guests.

The drill competition aims to promote discipline and leadership skills, develop self-confidence, teamwork, and camaraderie among peers. All contest categories are based and rated according to U.S. Army manuals and regulations.

A four-member team from JROTC Tinian will compete in a national contest in Washington, D.C. in June. Gay said the delegation is the first for the CNMI in the national JROTC academic contest.