The five CNMI JROTC battalions from Rota, Tinian and Saipan public high schools met on the battle grounds 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 Dr. Rita Sablan, education commissioner, who was the guest speaker at the event.
Her words of encouragement electrified the competing cadets to do their best and to shine with all of their training.
Also, Lt. Col. Robert Gay, the CNMI JROTC MSU director of army instruction who oversees all of the five public JROTC programs, delivered his remarks to the anxious cadets waiting to compete.
The trophies were passed out by Sablan, and Board of Education member Tanya King along with Gay.
The top winners were Marianas High School JROTC which rose to victory with three first place trophies in unarmed exhibition drill, armed exhibition drill and the first place overall for most points awarded.
Next came Saipan Southern High School JROTC which received two first place trophies in armed regulation drill, unarmed regulation drill and second place overall.
Rota High School took first place in saber color guard competition and third place overall.
Kagman High Cchool won the armed color guard first place trophy and was fourth place overall.
Tinian High School took the fifth place overall trophy.
Special thanks go out to the Reserve Center and Maj. Greg Sablan who provided the facility and six evaluators: 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, Sgt. First Class Neemia Vaiagae from Guam.
The Army JROTC instructors were MHS Capt. Ernest Torres and Sgt. First Class Pedro Gloria, SSHS Command Sgt. Maj. Leonardo Rabago, Sgt. Maj. Jack Kiyoshi and Sgt. First Class Tony Lukeala, Rota Sgt. Maj. Herman Atalig and First Sgt. Ed Tabanar, KagHS Master Sgt. James Burke and Master Sgt. Juan Salas and from Tinian, First Sgt. Frank Deleon Guerrero and Sgt. First Class Roger Thompson.
