By Kiana Caranto
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On Aug. 25, MHS Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) cadets gathered at the National Guard Armory at the Bellows Air Force Base along with all of the other JROTC programs on the island, ready to begin a day of competition known as Organization Day (Org. Day). This field trip gave the MHS cadets an opportunity to build relationships and bond as the newest battalion on the island, a battalion being a unit including all of the cadets.
“It’s more of a fun type of competition, but it is a competition. And the cadets, they want to win,” said JROTC adviser Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Schiller, continuing, “It was a good event for them to gel a little bit and compete against another school.”
Out of the 125 MHS cadets, 66 participated in Org. Day. The Trojan Battalion participated in a total of 13 events, including tug-of-war, a track event and an egg toss.
The main purpose of Org. Day was to give the cadets a chance to bond. “It got me closer to my peers and I got to learn new and more exciting things about JROTC. It just
helped me have new bonding and relationships with my squad,” said Freshman Darius Usborne.
This event was beneficial not only for the cadets but the instructors as well. “We see how the cadets are able to compete in an environment that’s not threatening,” stated JROTC adviser First Sergeant Reinaldo Gonzalez Ruiz.
Because it was their first time together as a battalion it required little to no physical training or mental preparation. “What was unique about this experience for our cadets was, it was the first time they were together as a battalion,” said Schiller, adding, “It was a good event for them to understand and meet other cadets inside the battalion.”
Org. Day helped spark relationships that the cadets hope will last throughout the year. They, as well as the instructors, look forward to more events similar to this in the future involving JROTC.
