The federal government provided the CNMI JROTC tremendous financial and logistical support to underwrite the cost of transportation, meals, equipment and supplies for the five day training exercise.
The five CNMI cadet battalion commanders all related that the greatest part of this experience is the opportunity to meet new people, make new friends and compete in a positive environment. All of the cadets were randomly assigned to units that included students from each school.
The cadets participated in a multitude of activities that included roll call (wake up) at zero dark thirty, physical training, rappelling, leadership reaction course, obstacle course, platoon drill, rope bridge construction, knot tying, land navigation, first aid, academic challenge and tug-of-war.
The airport fire rescue department provided a real life demonstration of how they respond and react to an airline disaster. They also had cadets put on and experience their turnout gear, breathing apparatus and man the hoses.
Nightly activities included drill practice, academic challenge practice, socializing with cadets from sister schools, singing, and preparation of leaders for the next day’s activities.
The camp also included four highly spirited contests: cadet challenge PT test, interactive academic challenge, platoon drill and tug-of-war.
Marianas High School won the cadet challenge and the academic challenge.
Rota High School won the platoon unarmed drill.
Kagman High School won the inaugural tug-of war competition to much acclaim.
This event produced thunderous cheering and enthusiasm from all of the cadets.
Each cadet team consisted of five male and five female cadets.
The JROTC cadre also competed and were undefeated. However, the cadets emphasized to them that they had 10 males on their squad.
On March 26, 160 cadets rappelled off the bluffs overlooking Ladder Beach.
This activity continues to provide the most excitement for the cadets.
The cadets overcome any anxiety and negotiate the 50 foot descent in one of the most pristine environments
throughout the world.
The first person to execute the rappel was Sharlene Manglona, principal of Rota High School.
Retired Sgt. First Class Chris Baroldy, operations officer from the 8th Brigade Cadet Command higher headquarters, observed the five-day training event.
He told retired Lt. Col. Bob Gay, the JROTC cadre and the entire brigade of CNMI cadets that this event was one of the best cadet leadership challenge encampments he had observed from a planning, support, and execution standpoint of all the ones in his theater of operations which ranges from American Samoa, Hawaii, Japan, Alaska, and the western contiguous states.
Gay, the CNMI director of army instruction, recognized the JROTC cadre, MSU support personnel, and chaperones for all their hard work and support on behalf of the CNMI Cadets during the closing ceremonies.
He also thanked Baroldy for his outstanding contributions to the cadets and the staff.
Craig Garrison, Saipan Southern High School principal, ate breakfast with the cadre and cadets and observed training on Saturday and related how he intends to enroll as many freshmen into the JROTC program next year as the schedules allow. He looked great in highly primed ACUs.
The culminating camp event was a five-mile road march from Obyan Camp site to the Marianas High School JROTC classrooms.
The cadets embraced, bid their farewells and Tinian and Rota cadets prepared to depart for their trips home.
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