350 JROTC cadets compete at Reserve Center

The CNMI Multiple School Unit High school JROTC Annual Drill Competition took place this weekend at the Army Reserve Center here on Saipan. The five CNMI JROTC Battalions from Rota, Tinian and Saipan public high schools met to duel it out to see who’s the best of the best in precision drill competition.

The JROTC cadets have been rehearsing and practicing their drill moves for several months to prepare for this final event.

There were six competitive events: unarmed regulation drill, armed regulation drill, color guard regulation, color guard saber, armed exhibition and unarmed exhibition.

It was quite an event with over 350 cadets and hundreds of family members watching as the competition unfolded. Among, the onlookers were PSS Commissioner Dr. Rita Sablan, who was the guest speaker at the event. Her words of encouragement electrified the competing cadets to do their best and show off their training.

Also, Lt. Colonel Robert Gay, who is the CNMI JROTC (MSU) director of Army Instruction and oversees all of the five public JROTC programs, delivered inspiring remarks to the anxious cadets waiting to compete.

The trophies were later passed out by Dr. Sablan and Board of Education member Tanya King, along with Lt. Colonel Gay.

Marianas High School JROTC emerged as the overall champion by taking three first place trophies—in unarmed exhibition drill, armed exhibition drill, and the first place overall trophy for most points awarded.

Second was Saipan Southern High School JROTC, which received two first place trophies in armed regulation drill, unarmed regulation drill, and second place overall trophy for points awarded. Rota High School took first place in saber color guard competition and third place trophy overall for most points awarded. Kagman High School won the armed color guard first place trophy and fourth place overall trophy for points awarded. Tinian High School took home the fifth place overall trophy with points awarded.

Special thanks go out to the Reserve Center, commanded by Maj. Greg Sablan, who provided the facility and six evaluators from the Reserve Center: CW2 Mandel, chief evaluator and SPC Alex Sablan, SPC Vicente Sablan, Sgt. Pedro Towai, SPC Ricardo Quichocho, SPC Chuai Chen and one member of the U.S. Army recruiting command, SFC Neemia Vaiagae from Guam.

The Army JROTC instructors were from the following schools; MHS Capt. Ernest Torres and SFC Pedro Gloria, SSHS Command Sergeant Maj. Leonardo Rabago, Sgt. Maj. Jack Kiyoshi and SFC Tony Lukeala, Rota Sgt. Maj. Herman Atalig and 1st Sgt. ED Tabanar, KHS Master Sgt. James Burke and Master Sgt. Juan Salas, and from Tinian, 1st Sgt. Frank Deleon Guerrero and SFC Roger Thompson. [B][I](MSG Burke)[/I][/B]