The distinguished guests included Mayor Melchor Mendiola and his wife Estrella, Board of Education Vice Chairwoman D. Tanya King, Senate President Paul Manglona and his wife Lydia, Sen. Jovita Taimanao, retired Lt. Col. Robert Gay, director of Army instruction for the CNMI Multiple School Unit, his MSU staff as well as all the senior Army instructors from the Ayuyu, Dolphin, Manta Ray, and Stallion Battalions and their respective cadet battalion commanders were in attendance.
Mayor Mendiola provided the inspirational and commended the program for their service to the island of Rota during community fiestas, events, and ceremonies.
The highlight of the evening was the entertainment provided by the Buck cadets which included singers, dancers, and the Female Fancy Drill.
Cadet Lt. Col. Blaine Mesngon is the outgoing battalion commander and Cadet Lt. Col. Ezra A. Barcinas will lead the Buck Battalion for SY 2011-2012.
The military ball chairperson Cadet 1Lt. Zahra A. Frazier served as master of ceremony.
Gay served as the keynote speaker. During college, he participated in SROTC and was commissioned as an infantry second lieutenant upon graduation. Prior to entering the Army he received two free agent football tryouts as a linebacker/fullback with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots. During his junior officer tenure he commanded five companies which included an infantry company, basic training and United Nations command billets. He was an airborne ranger and was assigned to the West Point Military Academy as one of the coach for the cadets on the Army football team. He also served as battalion executive officer, and division inspector general.
