Local NJROTC students place second competing with four of the
top high schools in the region
Hollister
– San Benito High School’s Navy Junior ROTC students hosted
about 120 visiting cadets at The Haybaler Classic, as students
competed for trophies and bragging rights in SBHS’ final drill meet
of the year.
Hollister – San Benito High School’s Navy Junior ROTC students hosted about 120 visiting cadets at The Haybaler Classic, as students competed for trophies and bragging rights in SBHS’ final drill meet of the year.
“I think this is something we all feel pretty good about,” said Katelynd Schaaphok, Petty Officer Third Class. “We work really hard and I think it shows.”
The NJROTC is a program sponsored by the Navy, designed to impart values of patriotism and good citizenship upon students, encourage them to finish high school, seek a college education and stay away from gang activity. Each year students have the option in performing in a number of drill meets, competitions that display student’s precision and discipline as cadets in a variety of categories.
“We aren’t really interested in recruiting kids to join the Navy, that’s one of the last reasons we’re here,” said Master Chief Wade Willingham. “We’re more concerned in teaching them discipline and character, and if they’re interested in the Navy, we can help with that too.”
Outside of the classroom, NJROTC students have the opportunity to participate in a number of performance teams, such as colorgaurd or marching, learning formal routines and competing against other schools several times a year.
“You don’t have to join a team, but if you find one you really like and are good at, it makes the ROTC experience a lot more fun,” said Schaapok.
SBHS students competed in 10 drill meets this school year, and Saturday marked their last competition until the fall semester begins. Teams from Alvarez High School, Soledad High School and Milpitas turned out Saturday, widely regarded as some of the top performing schools in the region.
“These are some excellent teams, some of the best in California,” said Willingham. “And we beat some of them, so we’re pretty proud.”
Teams competed in four categories : unarmed exhibition, a stylized movement routine; armed exhibition, which makes use of rifles in the routine; marching, in which students are expected to respond to a series of commands; and colorgaurd, the stylized presentation of the flags. Focus and precision are key aspects of all events.
Though SBHS did not place in unarmed exhibition, the ‘Balers took third place in armed exhibition, second in marching, third in colorgaurd and second place overall. They also won a flag football tournament which all four schools participated in.
“These kids work harder than almost anyone else at this school,” said Willingham. “They’re here until five o’ clock, every day, and they get here an hour earlier. They take this very seriously.”
Serious though they may be, NJROTC students say the experience is invaluable, regardless of whether they choose to pursue a career in the service.
“We really are like a family, we’re all really close friends,” said Schaapok. “I don’t think people understand what we do and they think the uniforms are weird, but we’re learning a lot of self discipline and we help the community. I really enjoy this.”
Currently, 80 SBHS students participate in the NJROTC in one form or another, but the department is hoping to recruit more students in the near future.
Before the end of the year, SBHS NJROTC students will be holding their annual military ball April 29, and select students will be attending leadership academies in Honolulu and Washington over the summer.
For more information about the NJROTC program, contact Master Chief Wade Willingham or Commander Dean Whetstine at 637-5831 ext, 304
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or ds****@fr***********.com
