MARIANAS High School Class of 2022 graduates Teody Valenzuela and Lawrence Salamat recently completed their Basic Combat Training or BCT at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia.
PFC Lawrence Salamat and PFC Teody Valenzuela
PFC Teody Valenzuela reported to Fort Benning on June 24, 2022. He is currently with Charlie Company 1-19, 198th IN BDE. Having lost motivation and considered skipping training sessions, he said, “I experienced a lot of ups and downs, but mostly felt down since I was away from my loved ones and was rarely able to contact them.”
But he persevered and pushed through till the end of his training.
Valenzuela graduated from BCT on Aug. 26, 2022. He began Advanced Individual Training or AIT on Aug. 29, 2022, and is set to graduate on Nov. 22, 2022.
On July 1, 2022, PFC Lawrence Salamat reported to Fort Benning. He is currently with Bravo Company 2-58, 58th Infantry Regiment.
Salamat faced many challenges during Basic Combat Training. “There were times when I felt anxious and second-guessed my decision to join the military,” he said.
Nonetheless, on Sept. 9, 2022, he successfully graduated from BCT. He began AIT on Sept. 13, 2022, and is set to graduate on Dec. 9, 2022.
Valenzuela is a former battalion executive officer while Salamat is the former battalion training and operations officer of the MHS Dolphin Battalion. They were hardworking and persistent cadets who finished high school as LET 4’s.
Both say they’ve effectively used what they’ve learned in the JROTC program to help them push through BCT and AIT.
