Articles

On December 13th, 2025, the NJROTC unit attended the Daisy Lane Christmas Parade. The annual Daisy Lane Christmas Parade is located on Daisy Avenue, from Hill Street to Pacific Coast Highway. At this Parade, NJROTC cadets performed as entertainment during the parade. Cadets marched in formation as they passed glow sticks to children, waving at the crowd, and chanted “Merry Merry Christmas, Oorah!”  

The Armed exhibition team was marching while performing a routine with rifles in hand, exciting the crowd with their decorated rifles and their tricks. There were 9 cadets doing a 9-man Color Guard holding the colors of the US military forces marching in front of the platoon. The Color Guard consisted of the following roles: Right Rifleman, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, United States flag, and Left Rifleman. 

At the end of the parade, the cadets refreshed with water and filled up their cravings with snacks provided after their hard work, dedication, and sharing the Christmas joy.

On December 6th, 2025, cadets participated in the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade! The cadets met up at the NJROTC area to get attendance taken for the event. The bus was quickly loaded with the help of everyone. Upon arrival at Belmont Shore, they prestaged the 9-man Color Guard, platoon, and armed exhibition team, ate a quick snack, and hydrated to prepare for the march.

It was then time for the cadets to start marching, and they greeted everyone with smiles and positive energy to get people pumped up! After a lot of marching, the cadets recharged their energy with food and water. They loaded the bus with all the flags, rifles, and gear.

The bus rode back to the NJROTC area, and they made sure to help unload before getting picked up. They had an amazing time throughout the whole parade, being cheerful, spreading joy, and having infectious smiles.

Cabrillo High School’s NJROTC unit was invited to 3 local middle schools to showcase what we offer as a High school and our NJROTC program. The visits are known as “Westside Connections”. A group of cadets went to John Muir Academy, Washington Middle School, and Stephens Middle School to visit 8th graders to talk about Cabrillo and NJROTC. 

The 8th graders had many questions, and the cadets were open to answering them. Cadets explained and shared that NJROTC is a program at Cabrillo High School where students can learn about leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline. They also talked about how you can get to do fun activities like community service, field trips, and even competitions. 

The Westside Connections were a great way for the 8th graders to learn about new opportunities and think about their future. It was fun for them being able to see new faces and get to know new people from different schools!

On December 6, 2025, the field meet hosted by Pacifica High School took place. Our competitors and helpers arrived at the unit early in the morning to get a head count and load the bus. Upon arrival, the cadets went to their designated area and got everything set up. 

The cadets were very organized and moved quickly with purpose, preparing for a uniform inspection. Our cadets had a small snack right after unloading in order to avoid competing on an empty stomach. Drill teams were then up next. First Color Guard, and then Unarmed Basic, Armed Basic, Unarmed Exhibition, and finally, Armed Exhibition. All our helpers and cadets watched and cheered as our teams finished their drill card/performances.

The cadets had a delicious lunch before our academics team had to take the academics test, and the PT team would compete right after. Our competitors had lots of time to spare right before the relay race started, so they danced to El Payaso Rodeo along with cadets from other schools! When the relay race ended, all of the competitors and helpers cleaned up and put all the gear back in the bus to be on the way home.

Although we didn’t win any trophies, our teams improved and showed teamwork because they worked together. We look forward to taking our lessons learned and doing much better at the next competition!

On December 3rd, 2025, Cabrillo High School hosted a site night for the incoming freshmen who have an interest in our school. All the school clubs set up tables with pamphlets and flyers that showed what each club does. The night started with the school's spirit squads greeting the class of 2030 and their families, making them feel welcome and a part of the school. 

Our NJROTC unit’s table had a pull-up bar and mats for crunches for anyone to try and win prizes. The NJROTC website was displayed on a Chromebook, and the students and their families looked through it, seeing photos, community service events, and competitions that our cadets do that help them build up their skills. During the night, the cadets talked with the incoming freshmen about their own experiences in the program, sharing stories of trips, competitions, and community service events. The cadets helped them think about joining NJROTC to improve their confidence and skills. 

The night helped the class of 2030 to learn about all the activities they can join here at our school to help them see the many opportunities offered when they have to choose a high school. This encouraged them to get involved in school life. The students left the night feeling excited about joining clubs next year, especially NJROTC, because of the benefits and the many companionships they can make through the program.

On November 22nd, 2025, five cadets visited the University of Southern California. These cadets consisted of 2 seniors, 2 juniors, and 1 sophomore. During this event, other NJROTC units from different high schools were invited to talk to Marines and Navy ROTC cadets and learn about the many opportunities of becoming an officer in the military and a student of USC. 

A meeting was held between the five cadets and the upper leadership of the USC ROTC unit, which included Commander Ragaido, Lieutenant Brooks, Staff Sergeant Arzate, and Staff Sergeant Anuakado. In the meeting, cadets asked about life on the ship, memories that stuck with them, mentorship, and the differences between the Navy and Marine ROTC. A slideshow was presented with information on the qualifications for applying for the NJROTC scholarship. It gave cadets information about what the scholarship provides, how to apply, and the details for when you get it. College and university are important for becoming an officer in the military, so choosing which university to attend is important. Knowing the difference between each ROTC program can help cadets in choosing what they think fits with their career plans.  

The cadets received a talk on life as a midshipman by three college students in the ROTC unit. This focused on how cadets' lives revolve around college, extracurriculars, and ROTC. 

Just like our NJROTC unit at Cabrillo, they follow the Navy and Marine Corps principles. High school goes by fast, and it is highly encouraged that students start deciding what they want to do in the future. This trip helped our cadets have more variety of choices in what they would want to pursue as a career in life.

Four Cabrillo NJROTC cadets, Lopez, A., Hernandez, I., Moctezuma, M., and Arellano, A., recently competed in a Brainbrawl at Pacifica High School on November 16, 2025. They joined 16 teams from 8 schools to answer questions about math, science, history, military ranks, and uniforms.  

Each round consisted of toss-up and speed questions, with points awarded for correct answers and deductions for incorrect ones. Our cadets completed a total of 4 rounds prior to being eliminated. The cadets were fed a healthy lunch provided by the Pacifica Booster Club parents. 

The Brain Brawl was tough, but the Cabrillo team worked together and answered as many questions as they could. Afterwards, the team discussed what went well and what could be improved to prepare themselves for the next Brain Brawl.

On November 14, 2025, our 4-man Color Guard was invited by the OC Warrior Hockey program to present the colors for their Veteran ice hockey game. Our cadets were excited when they heard that they would be performing a Color Guard at this event. 

Upon arrival, the cadets were shown to their spots so they could visualize how they wanted to showcase. The Veterans who were playing in this game were separated into 2 teams, which were the Long Beach Bombers and the San Diego Sabers. They showed respect for the colors and were at parade rest with their hockey sticks in front of them and their right hand over their heart. 

The cadets got the opportunity to watch the game after presenting, and they enjoyed it because they had never watched an ice hockey game in person before. After about 30 minutes of watching, the cadets ate at In-N-Out and went on their way home safely.

On November 8, 2025, was the Long Beach Veterans Day celebration at Houghton Park. Our unit was invited to bring a 9-man Color Guard for this event. This celebration is held to honor and appreciate veterans and those who are currently serving in the US military.

The 9-man Color Guard consists of the right rifleman, U.S. flag, Army flag, Marine Corps flag, Navy flag, Air Force flag, Space Force flag, Coast Guard flag, and left rifleman. While the Color Guard was presenting, the medleys of the armed forces played right after the National Anthem. Each veteran and anyone currently serving in the military who was in the audience sang along if their anthem played!

After the colors, the cadets were given complimentary food from the food truck for their presentation. They ate well, stayed hydrated, rested, and then went on their way home safely, happy to have attended an event like this.

On November 8, 2025, our unit's drone teams arrived at Troy High School for their second drone meet. Upon arrival, they were guided to their designated area to set up their gear and charge equipment. The opening ceremony started shortly after and the colors were presented to start off the morning. 

The cadets were given a brief on how the day would progress. Alliance, piloting skills, and autonomous challenges were the three things on which they were going to focus on for the drone meet. The cadets had to work with different teams from other schools, tested their piloting skills, and did the autonomous challenges that tested their coding and flying abilities. These events ran through the entire morning, and the cadets had a filling lunch from In-N-Out. The semi-finals began and our Team A earned 3rd place, qualifying for the finals, but then lost to MLK High School who earned 1st place overall. 

The day ended and our drone teams cleaned their space up, proud of their teamwork. They communicated on what they could improve on to come back even stronger.

Each year, all NJROTC units at each school have a mandatory AMI, which is an Area Manager Inspection where the program is inspected materially and administratively, and Cadets show their knowledge, drill, and present a sharp military appearance. On November 5th, our unit’s AMI took place. Personnel inspection is the first thing that happens at AMI. It is when each platoon from 1st to 6th gets inspected on their knowledge and uniforms, and the class commanders of each platoon command in-place drill, demonstrating how much the platoons know how to drill. 

After the personnel inspection, families and friends were invited for the ceremony. The presentation of colors was first, to start the ceremony. Unarmed and armed exhibition teams performed a demonstration as the drone team captain flew a Parrot Anafi drone to captured images and video. Ribbons and promotions were awarded to cadets for getting involved in the unit and for outstanding performance. The cadets of the month for October were also announced. They were Cadet Seaman Erick Marin,and Cadet Petty Officer 1st class Adan Lopez. 

After the awards, the cadets were called to attention to start the pass in review. The pass in review is for cadets to render honors to inspectors and special guests. It consisted of forward march, column lefts, mark time, halt, and left/right face. After coming to a halt and back to attention, the company was then dismissed by Commanding Officer C/LCDR Dolores Aguayo-Perez, and cadets got to take photos and interact with their family. The cadets worked so hard to make this a successful AMI. They were nervous but they made sure it didn’t get in the way of them showing off their skills.

On November 1st, 2025, all Cabrillo NJROTC field meet teams competed at the Chaparral Field Meet. The teams were Color Guard, unarmed basic, unarmed exhibition, armed basic, armed exhibition, academics, and the PT team. On this day, we also had cadets who did not compete but helped run things smoothly. Our cadets arrived early at 4am to load the bus and to get there on time. 

As soon as everyone arrived at Chaparral High School, they unloaded the bus and helped set up Cabrillo’s area. Snacks were given out in case anyone hadn’t eaten any breakfast, but making sure not to eat too much so no one’s stomach would hurt. The academic test was soon taken by the academic team, and then it was Personnel Inspection, which was for all competitors to get checked on their uniform and knowledge. 

The drill teams were then up next and competed in the order of Color Guard, Unarmed Basic, which is a team of basic military movements but with one singular guidon and no rifles; Armed Basic, which is basic military movement but with rifles, a sword, and a guidon; Unarmed Exhibition, meaning making basic military movements into a modified routine; and Armed Exhibition making a routine of precision  non-regulation movements, but armed. 

During the PT portion, cadets showed how fit they were, pushing themselves to get a certain number of pushups and curl-ups. The 16x100 relay race was the very last thing on schedule, and it’s almost every cadet's favorite part of any field meet. Each school has a team consisting of 8 females and 8 males. Each cadet runs to the other end to hand the baton to the next cadet until all 16 cadets have run a 100-yard sprint. 

Although our unit didn’t win anything for this competition, all that matters is that everyone gave their best effort and we look forward to improving with each competition.

On October 30th, 2025, Cabrillo High School had a big night. It was our homecoming football game. The bleachers had all rows filled with students, families, friends, and faculty. Seeing how crowded the bleachers were and all the excitement and yelling, you could feel the school spirit. 

Before the game started, our 9-man Color Guard marched on the field with the Honor Guard. Our Color Guard presented the colors, and our Honor Guard presented the swords for the National Anthem and the Armed Forces Medleys. The Color Guard and Honor Guard spent so much time practicing to improve their skills and to look amazing for this big night. They all looked sharp in their uniforms. 

During the halftime show, our Honor Guard stayed on the field to arch the swords for the homecoming court to walk under. Color Guard and Honor Guard weren’t all that our unit participated in on this night; some of our cadets who weren't on the field performing helped out by directing cars and making sure everyone had a parking spot. The cadets were friendly and greeted everyone as they arrived. Thanks to them, everything went smoothly, and people didn’t have to worry about where to park or getting stuck in traffic. 

After everyone, including Honor Guard, Color Guard, and parking helpers, had done their job, they were all called into the classroom to have a nice warm meal.

On October 30th, 2025, thirteen cadets got together at Webster Elementary School to help out with their annual trunk or treat event. The school staff and parent volunteers organized everything, and they gave the cadets different assigned jobs. Some of the cadets ran booths selling food, while others refilled cars with extra candy for the kids. A few cadets stood by the parking gate to let the cars participating in the trunk or treat know where to park. 

All the cadets helped both set up and pack up when the event was over. The best part of this whole event was seeing everyone, especially the children, dressed up in their costumes, collecting candy, and having fun. It was a nice experience knowing that the cadets worked together, met new faces, and helped make the event smooth and amazing for everyone, especially the kids.

Halloween Movie Night

On October 29th, 2025, the NJROTC unit hosted a spooky movie night where cadets invited their friends and family for a fun, Halloween night. Cadets and guests brought their PJs, plushies, and blankets to stay warm during the movie.

Before the movie started, there was a concession table manned by staff cadets that sold snacks like chips, chocolate, soda, popcorn, and hot dogs to enjoy throughout the movie. As the movie was about to start, everyone took a seat on the grassy area with their blankets. The scary movie, “Lights Out,” was projected upon a giant inflatable screen, and the audio blasted through powerful speakers. Even though “Lights Out” might’ve been a bit scary, everyone really enjoyed their time hanging out. 

When the movie ended, everyone cleaned up their space and headed home, happy that they got to celebrate Halloween at this event with their friends and loved ones.

On Saturday, October 25, 2025, our unit's drone team participated in the Troy High School Drone Competition. We had a total of 3 teams consisting of 2 people each, a pilot and an engineer. When the pilot is flying the drones, there are going to be malfunctions a lot of times, so the engineer does their job of seeing what the problem is and fixing it. 

Twelve other NJROTC teams from various schools attended the drone competition. One of our drone teams made it to the semi-finals and won the Airmanship trophy for good sportsmanship and drone skills. Teams were individually interviewed and tested throughout 40 qualification rounds. They were tested for piloting, coding skills, and teamwork missions alongside teams from different schools. 

A pilot and an engineer have to work together to get their drone to function correctly. Being in the drone team helps cadets to develop their skills in teamwork and communication. All the cadets had an amazing time in this competition, being able to make new friends and support each other along the way!

On October 18, 2025, cadets from our unit volunteered for the Cabrillo Villages community service cleanup. The cadets arrived at the NJROTC area and got their supplies needed to take on the cleaning. They had gloves, vests, trash bags, and grabber tools. 

This event was organized by a neighborhood association, and the cadets helped in many ways, such as clearing out overgrown vegetation, clearing dirt from the sidewalk to prevent people from mistaking it as a crossover, and picking up trash. Throughout the cleanup, volunteers took breaks to hydrate, have snacks, and stay away from the heat. 

By participating in cleanups, cadets give back to their community while also having fun, bonding, and building their teamwork and communication skills with each other. After the event, the difference in the area was a much cleaner and safer environment because of all of the hardworking volunteers. 

Cadets headed back to the unit to get ready to go home, and they were happy about the difference they’ve made, knowing they helped make their community a cleaner, safer place.

On October 4th, Air Rifle teams from different high schools arrived early at our Cabrillo Air Rifle “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” competition. The schools included La Habra, Pacifica with three teams, Troy with two teams, Hawthorne, and Orange Glenn. Days before the competition started, everyone prepared their gear and got some practice in. 

         The competition had teams shoot a total of 20 shots in three different positions, which were kneeling, prone, and standing. All those positions made it challenging because each position requires different skills and focus. In between the competitions, the cadets fueled up with food and snacks provided by Cabrillo NJROTC.

Cabrillo team 1 and Cabrillo team 2 competed in the second relay, which started at 10 AM. After everyone finished shooting, the results on the scores were out and Hawthorne took first place with a score of 1978 points. Cabrillo team 1 was right behind them in 2nd place with a score of 1977 points, just one point away! Also, cadets from Cabrillo earned individual awards and Excellence In Competition pins. The competition was fun because not only did the cadets get to test their skills, but they also got to meet students from other schools who share the same interest in Air Rifle. 

On October 3rd, 2025, our NJROTC unit went on a field trip to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. As soon as we arrived, the cadets got the chance to do a Q&A with a few Drill Instructors. The Q&A was a great opportunity for cadets to ask about the training, requirements for joining, and what life is like in the Marine Corps. This helped students know if they would be interested in becoming a U.S. Marine, since it’s a career choice that cadets from the unit showed interest in. 

The cadets found their seats at the bleachers and prepared for the graduation ceremony. Before the graduation ceremony began, the Marine Corps band played, and it was exciting to see in real life. The graduation began, and there were traditions like the Colors Ceremony, marching the platoons, returning the guidons, and last but not least, dismissing the platoons. The Colors Ceremony presents the colors to show respect for the flag. Marching the platoons in graduation is to show the bearing, discipline, and obedience that the recruits learned while they were training. The guidons being returned to the Drill Instructors are to show the disbandment of the platoon and to move on to the next assignment.

Once the Graduation ceremony ended, the unit met up with PFC Aguayo-Perez, Humberto, our former Commanding Officer of the unit during the 2024-25 school year. Seeing him reunite with acquaintances, friends, and family was an emotional moment.

The cadets dined at the MCRD mess hall for lunch to gain back energy after waking up early for this graduation. After enjoying their lunch, we made sure that everyone had a water bottle and stayed hydrated for the restful bus ride home. The trip was a fun way for cadets to celebrate a Cabrillo graduate and learn about the US Marine Corps.

On August 19th and 20th, 2025, a handful of cadets engaged in a recruiting drive at Cabrillo High School during registration days. Cadets recruit students to grow the unit, share the NJROTC experience, earn community service hours, develop leadership skills, and build a stronger team. NJROTC is not what most people think. Joining the military after high school is not mandatory, but if cadets are interested in joining, NJROTC can lead to increased pay and the NJROTC curriculum can help them succeed. NJROTC is a program where cadets get a perspective on things that are beneficial for adulthood. For example, money saving, healthy dieting, leadership skills, and communication skills are beneficial for right now and later on in life. The program is a fun class for PE/elective credit, but also provides useful information that can prepare the students for certain situations. 

It is highly encouraged to join the program as we promote community service, encourage academic achievement, develop physical fitness, and teach naval science. The NJROTC mission is to instill the values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment. The upperclassmen in the program put on welcoming smiles while telling non-cadets what NJROTC is about. They love this class because of how easy it is to communicate/bond with each other, and they really hope the new cadets enjoy it as much as they do! 

On Thursday, September 11, 2025, our school held a Club Rush event during the lunch break. Many students visited tables set up by the different clubs and programs at Cabrillo. Our NJROTC program set up a table with favors like lanyards and bracelets. The lanyards and bracelets were a way to make our table fun and welcoming. As a show of gratitude for their interest, we gave those items to any student who stopped by and signed up. Our program has a lot of things to offer, such as practicing self-discipline, learning leadership, earning community service hours, career exploration, scholarships, team competitions, and forming strong bonds. The upperclassmen who volunteered to help at this event wore their uniforms to show what an involved cadet’s uniform looks like. 

     Students showed enthusiasm about our program, asking questions and making positive comments. We’re always excited to welcome new cadets into the program and look forward to growing together.

On Saturday August 23, 2025, the Poseidon Olympics aquatic competition came to a start at Mother’s Beach, CA. Poseidon is an event that has teams go against each other demonstrating their knowledge in knots, navigation, and teamwork. Schools with NJROTC programs attended the event as well as separate summer program groups. Safety has always been first so at Poseidon, participants must stay hydrated and wear life jackets before going near the ocean. 

Our school had a total of two teams, the names being Cabrillo Jags and Westside Guars. These two teams went through a series of wet events and dry events. The wet events consisted of teamwork in navigating their way around a checkpoint. Navigating as a team takes communication in order to accomplish it smoothly and quickly. In the save your shipmate task, one cadet has to jump into the water and tie a bowline knot after another cadet has tied a sheet bend knot and threw it to the cadet. During half time, the teams had lunch and we made sure our cadets were fed well with burgers, fries, and water so they can continue putting good effort into the event. Dry tasks included tying specific knots while blindfolded, taking a quiz on the parts of a sail boat, and board walking. The very last event was tug of war on a raft. 

The awards ceremony started right after tug of war. With the knowledge of knots blindfolded, the Westside Guars won the 3rd place trophy. Cabrillo Jags won the First place trophy in the leaky bucket task. After that long day it was time for our cadets to get rest and prepare for the first day of school!

From June 17-21, four NJROTC cadets from Cabrillo High School attended Leadership Academy at Ramona High School, in Ramona, CA. Leadership Academy challenges cadets in many ways, ranging from physical fitness, swimming ability, drill pad knowledge, overall knowledge, regulation, and more. During these five days, they were taught what it takes to be a leader and all the outcomes that will come along with it; they learned that leadership isn’t about a cord but rather an option that they need to choose to make sure their unit can thrive with strong leaders. Cadets were fed three times a day with outstanding food cooked by parents and Instructors. The cadets had daily personnel inspection practices to prepare for their final inspection.  

Along with the daily inspections, they had daily classes to learn important details of what it takes to be a leader. Some classes were about fraud, risks, Area Manager Inspections, field meets, operational risk management, and the five leadership pillars. On the second-to-last day, cadets took two finals that were required to pass, including a personnel inspection and the academic quiz that was based on lessons from the past days. Some other requirements were the Physical Fitness Test, where they run a mile, perform push-ups, and hold a plank. They also had a graded drill final, where they served as platoon commanders to march cadets. Our cadets had a great time and enjoyed what they experienced. We’re honored to have cadets who take on the challenge to learn how to be a leader and set the standard. Leadership Academy is recommended to cadets who are highly engaged in the program. It benefits both the cadets and the unit as they pass down their knowledge and demonstrate excellence.

Four cadets from our unit attended the Sail Academy, Session 1, June 19-21 at Fiddler’s Cove Marina on Coronado Island, CA. They practiced in advance to have a good grasp on the basics of sailing before arriving. The three-day event was a great experience for the cadets, who learned how to sail 25-foot Catalinas, made new friends, and had a great time. 

On the first day, the cadets learned about the different parts of a sailboat and how to tie important knots. This hands-on training gave them a solid understanding for the rest of the academy. They learned survival skills in the water as well. The second day was all about getting on the water and sailing. Each crew member of every team got to test out different roles of sailing and figuring out which role they want to take on for race day. The cadets worked together to navigate the sailboats while learning teamwork and communication skills. The final day was competition day! After a morning of practice, the cadets put their skills to the test, racing against each other. One of our cadets and the other members of Crew 6 took first place, earning a special Cadet Achievement Ribbon and a medal. Another one of our cadets and their teammates on Crew 5 came in second, earning Cadet Aptitude Ribbons and a medal.

All four of our cadets did an amazing job and had an incredible time making new friends and learning new skills. Throughout the academy, the cadets were well taken care of, with plenty of food and rest. They demonstrated understanding, knowledge and dedication. They had tons of fun and can't wait to share their experiences with their peers.

On June 5th, 2025, some of our cadets stepped forward to help out at the annual Webster Elementary End of Year Celebration. Our cadets are always passionate about having the chance to participate in helping every year, and they always look forward to it. This is a good chance to get community service hours in a fun way. Being a part of this event never gets boring. 

In order for the event to function smoothly, the cadets cooperated to get things going. They had a variety of jobs to complete, from selling food to setting up games for kids. Our cadets helped keep the celebration tidy, which made a difference, reducing trash and keeping the site looking clean. Taking turns running different booths is one of the best things at the celebration. That gives our cadets communication skills while they interact with people of all ages. 

The Webster End of Year Celebration was a success, and it couldn’t have gone any better. With all the teamwork and communication skills gained during this event, we are proud of our cadets, and we can’t wait to see what the next school year has in store for the unit. We are confident they’ll continue to improve as a team. 

On May 29th, 2025, cadets came together to celebrate the end of the year with a pool party. It was a chance for cadets and the instructors to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Cadets socialized and participated in games of water polo and volleyball. 

After soaking up the sun and splashing in the pool, it was time for the intense games of water balloon fights between the instructors and cadets. Everyone then got all dried up and had a barbecue all warm and ready for them to eat. They had burgers and cold drinks to regain all the energy they lost while having fun in the pool. Our cadets sat together and reminisced about their accomplishments and the memorable times they had in the unit as the school year comes to an end. The NJROTC unit has accomplished so much over the past years, and in this case, also formed long-lasting friendships. 

This celebration was a great end to a successful year for the NJROTC unit. The cadets and instructors alike worked hard, and they had formed strong bonds along the way. Summer is creeping up, and this day made up for the stressful school year. The end of the school year is looked forward to by a lot of the cadets because they all need the well-deserved break for improving and working hard.

On May 28, 2025, the Change of Command was held. This ceremony is based on the transition of leadership. This year, the new commanding officer, Aguayo-Perez D., relieved the retiring commanding officer, Aguayo-Perez, H., of his duty. Aguayo-Perez, H. gave his remarks on the unit’s success and showed appreciation for having the opportunity to lead. 

 Aguayo-Perez, D. gave a speech, sharing her wishes for the future of the unit and showing dedication in strengthening the importance of teamwork and leadership even more. The transition of leadership showed the end of a chapter and the beginning of a new one for the program. Aguayo-Perez, D., was the executive officer before she relieved the retiring CO Aguayo-Perez, H., and Escobar, S. relieved Aguayo-Perez, D. of her duty as executive officer. Mora K. relieved Garcia, G., of his duty as senior enlisted. Ramos, J. relieved Neri, A., of her duty as adjutant. The cadets relieved from their duty have contributed significantly to the unit, and the next chain of command will continue to do so.

Our unit has a promising future. These cadets were chosen for these leadership positions because they showed outstanding commitment, dedication, and hard work to the unit. With Aguayo-Perez D. as the new commanding officer, the unit will continue to excel, focusing on developing leadership skills, teamwork, and participating in community service. 

On Saturday May 17th, 2025, our cadets went to Knott’s Berry Farm. It was a needed day of fun and relaxation after months of studies and hard work. As soon as they arrived, our cadets scattered into groups to get to their favorite rides and attractions. 

No trip to Knott’s would be complete without trying some of the famous boysenberry treats. It was boysenberry season, so it was a great date to go to Knott’s. The cadets enjoyed boysenberry flavored pie and ice cream. It was great to see our cadets getting loose and having fun together. They got to enjoy a filling meal in moderation in order to have energy for the day but to also not feel sick on the rides. They are usually focused on studies and drills so this day was an enjoyable experience after the stressful week of AP testing. The day was also a great opportunity for the cadets to bond with each other. They shared laughs, screams of adrenaline from the rides, and experiences. 

We are proud of our cadets for working hard with all the competitions, PT, and schoolwork. This trip with their friends and fellow peers helped them de-stress over the obstacles they have encountered during the school year. When the day came to an end, our cadets were satisfied with how much of a great time they had and left with happiness. 

The Cabrillo High School NJROTC Unit hosted their annual Awards Banquet on May 2nd, 2025. Parents arrived to celebrate the achievements of their cadet/s. Special guests were invited to award certain cadets with awards.

 The night started with a presentation of the colors, and this was followed by a prayer. The guests were then served tacos for dinner. (A heartfelt thank you to the Aguayo family for providing everyone with this meal.)

The awards ceremony started. The cadets were awarded for their performance. Special medals, certificates, and ribbons were given to cadets for their achievements. There was lots of applause and cheers as cadets were receiving the awards they showed dedication and hard work for. Cadets received new ranks, which symbolized unit development and growth. 

 The senior class was given the opportunity to give a speech, reflecting on their time in the NJROTC program and expressing their gratitude to the instructors, their peers, and their family. Their words were touching, and it was clear that the program had made a wholesome impact on their lives.

 The awards banquet showed the Cabrillo High School NJROTC unit's commitment in shaping cadets to become great people. The banquet is a great way in which to celebrate the achievements of the cadets and bring the community together as they share in their success.

 On April 19th, 2025, a few of our PT team cadets came over to participate in the Santa Ana Raiders challenge, an examination of their physical and mental endurance. These cadets gave their best effort to prepare for the Raiders Challenge as it was approaching. The challenge tried the cadets out to the limit, pushing them to demonstrate teamwork, leadership, and endurance.

 The morning started with a nutritious breakfast, honey and bananas, and it gave the cadets enough energy for what was coming. Cadets attended a session with the cadets from other schools, and they mapped out what they would accomplish for the day.

 The physical barriers began with a sequence of physical activities, including pull-ups, push-ups, and planks. The cadets also executed a weight carry sprint, where they carried a heavy weight of 100 yards. The second barrier was a "feats of strength" competition, including dead hangs, bench presses, and deadlifts.

 The cadets also participated in a triathlon-style activity where they ran the track once, swam one lap, did burpees, ran again, swam again, and finished up with a human carry run. This activity required the cadets to show their resistance and teamwork.

 During the day, the cadets were put to the test, showing off their skills, determination, and esprit de corps. The ceremony was followed by chow, where the cadets fueled up and prepared for the awards ceremony.

 The Raiders Challenge is a great experience for the NJROTC cadets to acquire leadership, teamwork, and physical skills. Our cadets must be proud of their success and congratulate themselves on having accomplished what they had intended to do as well as on the capacity to endure the challenges of the challenging task. Being capable of competing at the Santa Ana Raiders Challenge demonstrated that they were committed and ready to perform at their best.

  The NJROTC Military Ball is a significant event that the cadets look forward to all school year. On April 5, 2025, Cabrillo High School hosted the event. The schools invited were Lakewood High School, Narbonne High School, and Hawthorne High School. 

  The Military Ball is a formal affair, with cadets dressing up in their finest uniforms and guests attending in formal wear. The evening typically includes reception, dinner, and dancing, as well as ceremonies such as the posting of the colors and a POW/MIA ceremony. 

  As guests arrived, they were greeted and guided to their seats. The guests patiently waited as the ceremony was coming to a start. The cadets from all four schools were chatting excitedly as they anticipated the evening’s festivities. When the ceremony was over, a delicious meal was served to everyone. The evening’s festivities included the posting of the colors, Honor guard, cake cutting ceremony, dinner, and JROTC military ball royalty which consists of a queen, king, prince, and princess from each school. 

  After the dinner, The cadets and their guests filled up  the dance floor, enjoying music and laughter as they celebrated the bonds of friendship forged through their shared experiences in the NJROTC program. Lots of dancing later, the evening came to an end and the cadets and guests made their way home. 

  The NJROTC Military Ball is an annual event that promotes unity, respect, and celebration among cadets, instructors, and guests. The evening was a testament to the unit’s dedication, discipline, and esprit de corps. This year’s event, hosted by Cabrillo High School, was a success and it will be remembered as a highlight of the NJROTC experience for years to come. 

On Saturday, March 22, our air rifle team traveled to Santa Ana High School to participate in a biathlon shooting competition. A biathlon is a contest that combines shooting and running laps. This event aims to test who can shoot most accurately even while physically exhausted. This helps build mental toughness and discipline, which is essential if you join the service and are deployed to the fleet. It teaches you not to make excuses, even after running miles or enduring long hikes.

Our team gave their best effort in both shooting and running. Out of four schools, we placed first in shooting, second in running, and most importantly, earned first place overall. Our cadets had a great time and enjoyed their weekend with a well-earned victory. Each cadet was dropped off and arrived home safely.

On February 15, Cabrillo High School NJROTC traveled to Santa Ana to compete in their annual Sea Perch underwater competition. Cadets woke up early to prepare their engines. Once ready, they headed to Santa Ana High School. Upon arrival, the cadets immediately got to work making last-minute adjustments and ensuring the equipment was waterproof. Once everything was set, the cadets prepared for the competition. They competed in the obstacle course against several other schools. Our cadets, with hours of hard work and dedication, came home with a trophy, earning 3rd place in the coral challenge. After the award ceremony, we packed up our items and got ready to head back to Cabrillo High School. Every cadet enjoyed their time and looked forward to returning next year to compete even better than before.

On February 8th, Ramona High School hosted their wild card event as a last chance to qualify for Super Bowl. A total of 11 schools participated to secure their potential spot. Cabrillo High School NJROTC was invited to take part in the wild card event. Our cadets arrived at school at 0600 to prepare and ensure they had all their equipment. Once they arrived at Ramona High School, the cadets immediately got to work to ensure we would finish on top. The helpers made sure everything was set up. After completing the Personal Inspection, several cadets competed in unarmed basic, unarmed exhibition, armed basic, armed exhibition, and color guard events. Afterward, the cadets had a small snack and then participated in the push-up and curl-up events, followed by the 16x100 relay race—the second-to-last event of the day. Once the competition ended, cadets from every unit gathered for the awards ceremony. Cabrillo High School NJROTC earned a total of 5 trophies: 2nd place in Color Guard, 3rd place in Unarmed Exhibition, 3rd place in Armed Exhibition, 3rd place in the 16x100 relay race, and 3rd place in Overall Drill. Our unit also received 5th place in Overall Field Meet, thanks to the outstanding leadership that consistently puts in the right effort. After the ceremony, the cadets packed up and headed back to Cabrillo High School. We ensured all cadets made it home safely and that they felt proud of themselves after Ramona's wild card event.

On February 2, 2025, Cabrillo High School NJROTC went down to Belmont Shore Beach to participate in a beach clean up. Trash is a major world problem. On beaches trash presents a danger to animals, environment, and health. Even though a beach clean up may seem like a small step, it makes a huge difference in preventing even more trash from becoming a part of the pollution problem.  Our cadets really enjoyed the fact that they were a part of making the community a better place. Events like these can count towards participation and the required community service time of 10 hours total. Prior to departing, cadets enjoyed a light lunch. It was a great day to be on the beach, and we appreciate the time Cadets put into helping our community and environment! 

On February 2, 2025, Cabrillo High School NJROTC cadets went to Bonelli park to participate in the NJROTC Area 21 Orienteering Championship. Bonelli park is located in San Dimas, California.  It’s a beautiful park filled with open areas that anyone can explore. Bonelli park is known for their large mountains with even better views once you hike to the top. NJROTC had the opportunity to use these mountains for orienteering. LAOC has provided three courses for different skill levels–beginner, JV, and varsity. Cadets who ran the courses were given time limits and a map of required checkpoints. Before heading out to the mountains, cadets got to eat some delicious food provided by their NSI Master Sergeant. After the competition and awards ceremony, we packed up and prepared for the return bus ride. Overall, our cadets stayed safe and injury-free, and they enjoyed their time in the great outdoors. Encouraging each other and forging friendships made the experience even better. 

On August 28 our cadets headed to Mothers Beach to participate in NJROTC's yearly Poseidon Water Competition. This is an event where cadets have the opportunity to participate in 10 events that are competitive and challenging. Some of these events were canoeing , tying knots blindfolded ,swimming , and many more. Cabrillo had two teams, our Company Officers team, and our Executive Officers team.Both teams brought home awards. The Company Officers team brought home second place in save your shipmate and our Executive Officer brought home first place in Leaking Bucket. Overall the morale was good and all the cadets were fed greatly. This was a super fun event and feel free to be a part of any NJROTC event.

On a sunny and warm afternoon, Cabrillo NJROTC went to a handful of middle schools and elementary schools to interact with the youth. These schools consist of Stephens middle school, Washington middle school, John Muir K-8 and Garfield elementary school. NJROTC visited these schools to increase their interest in Cabrillo High School and to let them know NJROTC is a class that can be taken as a substitute for PE. We came to these schools with fun challenges to show what we do. For example, we brought weights and did jumping jack and push-up competitions to get the kids to do some common exercises. These little fun games are what made everyone's day and it made them want to come and join us in the near future. We also brought some drill rifles to display armed exhibition. For our Garfield elementary school visit. NJROTC brought both armed and unarmed exhibition teams to make a short performance to entertain and interest the kids and parents on Literacy Night. We hope that our visits raised interest in our program and our wonderful high school! 

The Pacifica Field Meet was hosted on December 14, 2024 at Pacifica HS in Garden Grove, California. Field meets bring together talented teams and individuals from various units to demonstrate their academic, athletic, and drill skills. Throughout the field meet our cadets exemplified outstanding teamwork, discipline, and unit pride. NJROTC has many teams, the most common teams being our regulation and exhibition drill teams. The regulation or “basic” drill teams are the unarmed and armed. They show an understanding of the drill card and work to mastery. The two other drill teams are unarmed and armed exhibition. These two teams both require hours of practice and precise, snappy movements that are very difficult and require plenty of skill. Some other teams that participate in this event are our physical fitness team and our color guard. Both teams are very different in many aspects, but nonetheless require the highest amount of skill and endurance mentally. Our competitors favorite part of coming to field meets is representing our unit with pride by displaying understanding of Naval Science topics, Marine Corps drill, and physical fitness. Our helpers did an amazing job of always keeping everyone on track, and making sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. Pacifica NJROTC provided a delicious meal for all the competitors. We thank everyone that was a part of this field meet for the way everything went! Our cadets had a great competition experience and enjoyed their time! 

On a chilly afternoon on December 14, 2024, Cabrillo high school NJROTC hosted their annual Christmas party. Our cadet staff were in charge of the whole event and helped everything run perfectly. The staff served food to all attending participants. The cadets enjoyed the Potluck as they watched a Kung Fu Panda II with their friends. We had some past cadet leaders visit and partake in the festivities and encouraged cadets to become more involved and have fun. A fun part of the party are the games. The Candy Cane Pass game was definitely a fan favorite because it made people interact and build teamwork and communication skills. Overall, everyone enjoyed their time with the NJROTC family as they prepared for the Winter Break and upcoming holidays with their other friends and family. 

 On a sunny morning, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) was hosting a graduation for newly incoming Marines who have finished their difficult 13 weeks of United States Marine Corps Boot Camp. Our Naval Science Instructor, Master Sergeant retired US Marine, had reserved a spot for our cadets to witness a Marine Corps graduation that included a former Cabrillo Cadet. Approximately 30 of our cadets attended the trip to MCRD. Once the graduation was completed we congratulated our former NJROTC cadet and then we took the opportunity to visit the museum and gift shop and purchase souvenirs. This was definitely a highlight of the day because cadets got to learn about the history of the Marine Corps. After a fun educating experience, our cadets had a delicious meal from In-N-Out. Upon our bus returning to Cabrillo, we ensured all cadets had a ride home. Thank you to MCRD for having us over to visit and witness a Marine Corps graduation. 

 Cabrillo NJROTC hosted the Cabrillo field meet on November 16, 2024. The whole week leading up to the field meet, our cadets helped set everything up in order to get Cabrillo ready for the event. Cadets woke up early to help with last minute details and preparation. After competitors put on their uniforms they were ready to compete. Our helpers did an amazing job in navigating schools to their event locations and providing all competitors with food and drinks. 

     Everyone’s favorite part of the field meet was the relay race, and all the schools participating, met on the field. Running and working as a team is what made this race fun.

     The schools that had participated in our field meet were rewarded with trophies and individual top performers received achievement medals.

     This field meet could not have run smoothly without our helpers who assisted with everything from set-up to breakdown and clean-up. Everyone got home after a fun and rewarding day of hard work and dedication.

December is the month of the Christmas spirit and cool weather that makes you want to get warm by the fireplace. For Cabrillo High School to celebrate the seasons, the spirit squads, dance team, marching band, and our Cabrillo highschool NJROTC program, all went down to Belmont Shore and Daisy Lane to participate in the annual Christmas parades. NJROTC came with three groups to represent Cabrillo. They brought up a nine-person Color guard to be in the front of the unit. In the middle was a marching platoon that was led by Cadet/Petty Officer 2nd class Fernando. Rather than calling cadence, cadets were put at route step to wave and chant at all the people in the crowd. Bringing up the rear of the formation, the Armed Exhibition led by Cadet/Senior Chief Petty Officer Gracia perform their best tricks to show off their drill team skills. The spectators cheered for our exhibition team as they twirled and tossed drill rifles in the air. Cadets enjoyed snacks and resting periods. Our cadets enjoyed their time at these parades and hope their joy was passed on to the parade attendees. 

On December 5th 2024, Cabrillo held its NJROTC Area Manager Inspection. The Personnel Inspection was conducted in the East Gym by Navy Talent Acquisition Group volunteers. After a short break the AMI ceremony commenced. Our guest of honor, U.S Navy retired Commander Garcia, came to take a look at all of our teams, cadets, staff and how we manage things in our unit. A majority of cadets were promoted for showing their commitment and dedication to the program. They all deserve it for all their hard work and time they have put to represent our unit. The Exhibition Drill teams put on a performance to show how skillful our unit can be. The final portion of the ceremony was the Pass-In-Review–a formal, time-honored ceremony. It honors the cadets' hard work and dedication and renders honors to our Area Manager and guests. When the Pass-In-Review ended, our unit had a sense of relief because they knew that the most challenging part of the Area Manager Inspection was complete. Cadets were super proud of themselves. In the end, everyone had a great time.Thank you to those who came, for putting in all that effort, we really appreciate it! Continue to do greatness! The AMI was a day filled with excitement, pride, and a sense of accomplishment that will motivate our cadets to continue striving for excellence. 

The day before Halloween, there was a Halloween party that was hosted for the cadets. They brought materials and food that were assigned to their class period. We started the party with food so they could have energy for the upcoming Halloween games. After dinner, we had a costume contest, and everyone enjoyed seeing all the different types of characters. Afterwards, it was getting dark so we made sure to start the Halloween games. The first game consisted of 3 cadets, each with a plate in front of them with whipped cream covering gummy worms. The competitors had to fish for the gummy worms with just their mouth. The second game was a game of tag. We had people dressed in scary costumes to chase after everyone. The last games were apple bobbing and wrapping the mummy. The apple bobbing had 3 cadets competing and each had one big bucket with apples that they had to bob for. Wrapping the mummy consisted of 6 cadets in teams of 2. In each of those teams, one cadet had to wrap the other person with paper ribbon. Our cadets helped clean and put everything back in order. When they finished they went home to get rest after having a “spook-tacular” time at the party. 

On October 29, 2024, Webster elementary school invited Cabrillo High School NJROTC, to help out on their annual “Trunk or Treat.” Cabrillo High School NJROTC helped out to make sure that their Trunk or Treat was a smooth experience . Those cadets that helped out did an amazing job in keeping up the Halloween spirit, making sure that they put a smile on peoples faces, especially the elementary school students, and making sure that they enjoyed every second. Near the end of the event, there was a costume parade and everyone who participated looked amazing. Our cadets were provided with food for their great work and went home whilst being proud of themselves. Everything ran smoothly and everyone loved it. 

On Saturday, Oct 26, 2024, Cabrillo High School NJROTC competed in Paloma Valley’s annual Paloma Valley Field Meet. A field meet is where schools gather to compete in seven events: push-ups, sit-ups, academics, color guard, unarmed basic, armed basic, unarmed exhibition, and lastly armed exhibition. Before competing, our cadets went through a personnel inspection. Cadets spent hours shining their shoes, working on their uniforms, practicing good hygiene, shaving, and, for the females, styling their hair into buns.

After the personnel inspection, the cadets went straight to the color guard event. The color guard team is led by Cadet Lieutenant Commander Aguayo-Perez, H. The next team to perform was the unarmed basic team, which focuses on marching and is also led by Cadet Lieutenant Commander Aguayo-Perez, H. Following them was the armed basic team, a team that performs marching with rifles, led by Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Garcia, G.

The next team to perform was the unarmed exhibition team. This drill team takes basic drill movements and forms “beats,” creating a complex series of stomps and slaps to form a 7 to 8-minute routine. This team is led by Cadet Ensign Uribe, I. Our last drill team to perform was the armed exhibition team. Armed exhibition is a form of freestyle drill performed only by the most trained cadets. The team specializes in using drill rifles to perform complex routines that require extensive training and practice. This team is led by Cadet Lieutenant Gonzales, U.

After the final drill team performed, cadets changed out to enjoy food provided by their SNSI and NSI. Once they finished eating, cadets prepared for the last event of the day, the 100-yard dash. When the cadets completed the dash, they packed up to head back to Long Beach, where Cabrillo High School is located. Upon arrival, they helped unpack and ensured everything was in its proper place. They gathered for a motivational speech and reviewed scores to identify areas for improvement for next year. Finally, they made sure all cadets got home safely, having had a fantastic day at the Paloma Valley Field Meet.

The month of October is the month of homecoming for Cabrillo high school. This school year we had three events revolving around homecoming. The first being the homecoming fair. This was an event where different clubs and pathways sold food related products. During this fair they also had performances. Our armed exhibition team , led by cadet Lieutenant, Gonzalez U. We had a short performance that was the intro of our performance for our Paloma valley field meet. This day was a total success!! We sold out on our product and made some profit that will go towards the unit.

  Our second event revolving around Homecoming was a homecoming football game. For this day we had two performances. One was a presentation of color by the female color guard team, led by cadet Lieutenant, Aguayo-Perez D. We also had a honor guard team led by cadet senior chief petty officer, Garica G. Both teams did present while the national anthem was played by the Cabrillo band team. Besides the two teams we also had a parking crew taking care of the people getting in and out of the parking lot making sure they are in a safe environment. They also help out people to make sure that they knew what they were doing and where to go for the football game. At half time , the honor guard did an arch sword for the homecoming royalty walking on to the stage to me there day, an even more special and more eventful day.

  For the last event , it’s actually a homecoming dance. This is a yearly celebration that brings together alumni, students, and the community to celebrate school spirit and pride. It usually takes place in  early October , during football season. They crown both a prince and princes both being seniors and students from all gardes vote for one person from both genders. This is a very special event and it takes weeks planning out so everyone who attended will enjoy their homecoming ceremony. 

On Mon, October in the Cabrilo small gym, we held our Cabrillo NJROTC Company formation. This is an event where our Senior naval science instructor along with Adjutant does promotions to the people who have participated in events. Some ribbons we gave were basic leadership ribbon, a ribbon earned to the cadets that went to mini boot camp in Santa Ana high school. Along with the ribbon cadets who attend also got a one rank promotion. Most cadets were protected into an E-2 otherwise known as cadet Seamen Apprentice. A Lot a cadets got promoted but the most noticeable was definitely Mora K. She was promoted into cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer otherwise known as an E-8. Mora K. has always been showing dedication to this program. She's one of the few to arrive early and always one of the last ones to leave. She has been motivating her platoon. She's also known as the pt commander, and the awards officer. A Lot of cadets showed up, but few got promoted. Remember if you didn't get promoted, don't take it personally .There's plenty of events to get prompted, just remember to participate.

 On the day of October 5th, 2024, our air rifle team woke up bright and early to get ready for  the day of their competition at Hawthorne High School. Our air rifle team had been practicing everyday in the morning up until the competition to make sure they trained enough to represent us well. Before the competition had started, they got their bodies fueled up with a tasty breakfast to strive. At 7 AM, our air rifle team started their participation in the first relay. Our cadets shot alongside Pacifica High School and Troy High School and our team scored 1,899 points altogether and set an outstanding 4th place. Our cadet Ulises Gonzales scored overall 7th place shooter. After the competition, our cadets headed out to eat some delicious food provided by their senior Naval science instructor, Lieutenant Commander. He made sure that they all ate and enjoyed food after their dedication to the air rifle competition at Hawthorne High School. 

On September 28, four cadets from the air rifle team went to compete in the Grossmont Air Rifle Competition. This is a competition where participants shoot air rifles. Small pellets are used, propelled by compressed air at 200 yards per second. The four cadets who attended this event were our team commander, S. Escobar, along with U. Gonzales, Francheska, and J. Sison.

Our cadets began their relay at 11 a.m., shooting in three positions: prone, kneeling, and standing. Eight teams total competed in the event. Out of these teams, our team placed 6th overall. Two of our shooters, Stephanie Escobar and Ulises Gonzales, placed 6th and 7th individually in overall rankings.

Air rifle shooting requires intense focus to accurately align with the target. Before even starting to shoot, competitors must clear their minds, let go of distractions, take deep breaths, and maintain as little movement as possible. Even the slightest motion can throw off an entire shot.

Overall, this was an exciting and challenging event, but our cadets had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed participating.

 On September 27, our brave cadets headed to Santa Ana High School to participate in the annual basic leadership training . BLT is an event where upperclassmen teach NS1 and NS2 cadets how to become leaders and prepare them for their NJROTC careers. Over the course of three days, the cadets underwent 48 hours of training and transformation. They spent their days working on drill, perfecting their uniforms, engaging in physical training, and developing their mental strength to become responsible cadets and students.

      These cadets woke up at 5 in the morning and ran a mile. After their morning PT, they ate chow, then worked on drill and general knowledge. Second day was one of the most challenging days. Every cadet had to learn how to properly attach devices to their uniforms. On graduation day, they underwent personal inspections to assess how much they had learned and how well they performed over their time at BLT. 

     At noon, our pass and review began. Before the pass and review, a special award was announced for 6 cadets out of 125. C/SN Ivan Hernandez Ivan and C/SA Harlin Xavier earned the "GUNG HO" Award! This award, chosen by the cadets in their platoon—cadets they had barely met and gotten to know just two days prior—was given to those who were the most motivated, who kept their platoon going, demonstrated the most teamwork, and most importantly, never quit on their battle buddies.

    This event was really fun and an overall great experience for every cadet. After graduation, each cadet received a PT shirt that said "I survived mini boot camp," and they also received a laser-engraved dog tag. Each cadet earned a promotion and a Basic Leadership Training ribbon.

On Saturday, September 21, our cadets headed to Troy athletic field meet. This is an event where cadets compete in physical activities to win awards. Some events that were in this field meet were dizzy Izzy, free throw, volleyball, ¾ mile run , relay races, and many other events. For that last event we had a big game of tug-o-war where every school competed in a big tournament. Ten high schools competed and Cabrillo earned a massive total of 9 trophies! This is really major and a big accomplishment for our unit. But the most important trophy that we got was the Best Sportsmanship Trophy. This award means a lot because it really shows what type of unit we are. Thank you to all the cadets who showed up and participated in all of the amazing events that Troy had to offer for us. Hopefully you enjoyed your time at this event. Also big thanks to Troy for inviting us to this event and making everything possible! 

On August 22 at the Cabrillo NJROTC area, we hosted a fun day for new cadets to see what the program is all about. Color guard had a quick demonstration of colors and a pledge of allegiance. Afterwards the armed exhibition team performed to show new students one of the many teams our program has. If you have any interest in joining a team check out the Cabrillo NJROTC page. When their performance was done they had fun games, such as dizzy izzy, kickball, and tug-o-war. When we fished up we all lined up for some food cooked by our amazing Chef, Master Sergeant Guardado. When we finished eating ,we cleaned up after ourselves. We said our goodbyes and thank yous to all the cadets who made this possible. Thank you to everyone who helped out, and even more thank you to all the cadets who showed up. 

On August 18, our two cadets, I. Hernandez and J. Moreno, both headed to Santa Ana to participate in the first orienteering event of 2024. This is the first orienteering event for Cabrillo in years. The event consisted of 13 different checkpoints scattered around Santa Ana High School. These spots were random, and the cadets had to use a map and compass to guide themselves around the school.Our two cadets took a leap of faith into something they knew nothing about. They showed an excellent performance, and while they were both confused at times, they maintained confidence and had a strategy to stay on top of the game. Hernandez finished with a time of 18:04 to find all 13 checkpoints around Santa Ana High School, while Moreno had a time of 27:24 to find all 13 checkpoints as well.They both had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed their experience. 

Cadet fun day took place on June 7th, 2024. On this day, cadets came together to have a fun afternoon. They got to have quality time together and a relaxing day before the school year ended. Our cadets got to satisfy their hunger with a pot luck. Some activities took place after the pot luck, the activities were a few games of kickball with a twist and a water balloon fight/activity. When playing kickball, while the cadets ran, they had to get through obstacles such as getting water aimed at them and dodging water balloons. After the kickball game, the water balloon activity occurred. Cadets were given a water balloon and were standing far apart facing another cadet. The way they played was by taking a step backwards after a successful catch and throwing the water balloon back to their partner. Moments after these fun activities, we cleaned up a bit and had ensured that everyone was okay. To remember this lovely day, we took a group photo and surprised our cadets at the end with a bucket of water spilled on them. All cadets were safe of course, and were glad to have spent this day together. 

May 18, 2024, as the cadets walked through the gates of Knott’s Berry Farm, they were hit with the sweet delightful scent of boysenberry pie. They could hear the sound of laughter and thrilling screams filled through the air. It was a perfect day for an adventure and nostalgia to blend perfectly. The cadets split into groups to enjoy time and make memories on rides while feeling the rush of adrenaline. 

 Time passed by quickly, the cadets came together, savored every bite of their meal, and enjoyed each other's company. After filling up with delicious food, they continued their day with going on more exciting rides. The cadets felt the rush of wind through their faces, cherishing every second of this day. When it was time to go, it could be seen on the faces of the cadets that they enjoyed their time and they were glad they could spend that day together like a family. After a fun day, they shared their goodbyes hoping for another adventure, just like this day.

On May 10, 2024, the members of our NJROTC community came together to participate in our annual awards banquet on the North Campus, adjacent to the NJROTC classrooms. Approximately 100 cadets, friends and family attended, as well as a few guest award presenters. We awarded cadets various national organization medals and NJROTC ribbons to recognize leadership, service, patriotism, and academic achievement, as well as outstanding attendance and physical fitness. A select few from NS2 and NS3 year groups were chosen as drill team commanders, staff members, and, most importantly, three individuals were appointed to key positions: Senior Enlisted, Executive Officer, and Company Commanding Officer. G. Garcia was honored with the selection to Senior Enlisted Advisor, while Dolores Aguayo-Perez was selected for the staff role of Executive Officer. Finally, H. Aguayo-Perez was selected as the next Company Commanding Officer.The highlight each year are the senior speeches. The speeches brought out a lot of laughs and tears as the seniors remembered their time in NJROTC and the friendships they forged. Overall, the cadets expressed happiness and enjoyed the event, potluck food, and the refreshments. We ensured that everyone had transportation arranged for a safe journey home. It is important to remember that there will be more opportunities to earn awards in the future.

On May 10, 2024, the members of our NJROTC community came to witness the annual change of command. This event marks the moment as we bid farewell to our seniors, who pass on their leadership roles to the next generation of cadets. Among those assuming pivotal positions, H. Aguayo-Perez was appointed Company Commanding Officer, recognized for his exemplary academic record, work ethic and exceptional leadership qualities demonstrated throughout his tenure in the program. He relieved Cadet S. Lorenzo, who plans on enlisting in the US Marine Corps. The new Executive Officer, D. Aguayo-Perez relieved Cadet T. Rodriguez who will be attending the University of San Diego. Dolores was selected for this position due to her exceptional academic record and because of her proven leadership in previous roles. Our new Senior Enlisted Leader, Gabriel G., relieved Cadet J. Evangelista, who will be attending California State University, Long Beach. Gabriel was selected for his adeptness in student care and commitment to excellence. We wish Samantha, Tristan, Jorge, the best in their future endeavors.

Cadet promotions were announced, addressing the dedication and contributions of several individuals to our program. Our cadets had an amazing time and seemed content. We ensured that our cadets had gotten home safe after their astonishing accomplishments that were made known. For those who didn't get the chance to get promoted, please keep in mind that there's still time and multiple chances to get in a higher position.