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186 cadets participate in 5-day encampment
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Posted on Apr 09 2008
A total of 186 CNMI Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps cadets participated in a five-day JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge Encampment in March.
According to Army instruction director and CNMI Cadet LTC Robert Gay, this is the largest encampment in the CNMI dating back 18 years.
The cadets camped at the vicinity of the Obyan Beach, where they had the opportunity to practice leadership skills in an unfamiliar environment and an opportunity to conduct adventure-training activities not normally available at the home station.
Cadets were randomly assigned to units that included students from all the schools in the CNMI, including JROTC cadets from Guam.
Cadets participated in a daily regimen that included roll call at “Zero Dark Thirty”, morning physical training, a full day of events and nightly activities.
The daily activities included rappelling, leadership reaction course, obstacle course, platoon drill, first aid and academic challenge, to name a few.
Select cadets from the Marianas High School and Saipan Southern High Schools conducted research for the project and briefed the cadets on the historical significance of each site.
Nightly activities included the CNMI Idol Song Competition, preparation of leaders for the next day’s activities and school skits and performances.
Gay provided the cadets authentic learning activities and promoted leadership skills, teamwork, problem solving, discipline, self-esteem, personal responsibility, making decisions and sociability.
“The cadets gained invaluable team building skills, leadership training and made some lifelong friends,” Gay said.
“The Cadets from Guam really appreciated the opportunity to work with their counterparts from CNMI and said they wanted to do it again next year,” he added.
The federal government provided the CNMI JROTC $14,000 to underwrite the cost of transportation and meals for the cadets, chaperones, and instructors from Tinian and Rota.
