Cranston East JROTC hosts annual awards ceremony
On Friday, May 19, the Cranston East auditorium was full of parents, friends and classmates of the Cadets of the 28th Battalion at Cranston East.
Lieutenant Colonel John Murray (retired), the JROTC coordinator, hosted the awards ceremony.
“Today’s ceremony recognizes those Cadets who have excelled academically, possess a high degree of character and work ethic, and or have excelled while assigned to positions of leadership within the battalion,” he said. “It is customary to begin a military ceremony with the posting of our National colors. Today’s color guard is Cranston’s own championship unarmed color guard team. These four young men and women have been a team for the last four years. They have competed in and won countless JROTC competitions throughout southern New England and eastern New York. They have spent hours perfecting their skill and that hard work earned them the right to be called champions of the southern New England drill league this year. They are simple, the very best.”
Murray called for the ceremony to begin.
“Unarmed Color Guard team; for the last time as Army JROTC Cadets, post the colors,” he said.
A slideshow was shown, including pictures of all the events, programs, competitions and community service activities in which all the Cadets participated over the course of the school year.
Murray then read the Army JROTC Cadet Creed, and explained how the awards are chosen.
“All the Cadets being recognized today have distinguished themselves in some way over the past school year. Whether it be their ability and willingness to lead or their quest for academic achievement; all adhere to the tenets outlined in the Army JROTC Cadet Creed.
“While the specific selection criteria for each of the awards being presented today differ; all are founded in one or more of these tenets,” he continued. “Simply put: the young men and women being recognized today have gone above and beyond our expectations and have excelled as Army Junior ROTC Cadets. This year, they are recognized as some of the best of the best of the 28th Corps of Cranston Cadets.”
There were three categories of awards being presented. Category I is Company Level awards, Category II is Individual Academic Achievement Awards, and Category III is Achievement & Leadership Awards.
On to the awards
The first category of awards is the Company Level Unit Awards, in which there are two and are represented by a streamer to be displayed on the receiving company’s guidon.
“The first unit level award is ‘Best in Drill and Ceremony.’ It is presented to the company who, as a team over the course of the school year, has displayed the greatest level of proficiency in drill and ceremony during our monthly leadership labs. This year, the company recognized as the best in drill and ceremony is once again Headquarters Company commanded by Cadet Captain Samuel Villeda,” Murray announced.
A Cadet’s No. 1 priority while at Cranston High School East is academic achievement and intellectual growth. To support this idea and goal, the second unit level award is “Best in Academics” and recognizes academic achievement of a group.
It is presented to the company who, over course of the school year, has displayed the greatest level of academic achievement via the Cranston High School East Honor Roll system. Cadets earn points for their company each quarter they make the Cranston East Honor Roll; three points are awarded for highest honors, two points for high honors and one point for honors.
“This year, the company recognized as the best in academics for the 2016-2017 school year by earning the most honor roll points is: Bravo company commanded by Cadet Captain Pedro Saravia,” he said.
The second category of awards recognize individual Cadet academic achievement.
The first award in this category recognizes one Cadet from each LET level assessed as having prepared and written the best essay for the Annual United States Army Cadet Command Essay Contest. One of the four essays was then selected to be sent to 2nd Brigade JROTC at Fort Dix, New Jersey for regional evaluation and possible submission to national.
“With the best essay; From the Class of 2020, Cadet Rose Espinal – recognized as the best Cranston East Essay. From the Class of 2019, Cadet Skyla Cyr. From the Class of 2018, Cadet Alexandra Jones, and from the Class of 2017, Cadet Jessica Taing,” Murray said.
The second award in the academic achievement category is the U.S. Army Cadet Command Academic Excellence Award. The Academic Excellence Award is presented annually to one Cadet from each LET level having earned the highest cumulative Grade Point Average within their year group during the school year. The winners this year were: From the Class of 2020, Rose Espinal; from the Class of 2019, Eric Testa; from the Class of 2018, Miliedy Urizar; and from the Class of 2017, Jessica Taing.
The third and final award in this category is the U.S. Army Cadet Command Distinguished Cadet Award. The U.S. Army Cadet Command Distinguished Cadet Award is presented annually to one Cadet who has exhibited the highest degree of excellence in scholastics during the school year.
“The recipients of the 2017 Distinguished Cadet award are Cadet Miliedy Urizar and Cadet Eric Testa,” Murray revealed.
The third category of awards recognized JROTC Cadet achievement and leadership.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Medal for outstanding achievement in JROTC, medal was presented to
Cadet Destiny Thorpe.
For exceptional leadership ability the VFW medal was presented to Cadet Samuel Villeda.
For outstanding military excellence in JROTC, the American Legion medal was presented to Cadet Karl Oung, and for scholastic excellence and academic achievement in all courses, the American Legion medal was presented to Cadet Matthew LaForge.
The Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War Medal recognizes those cadets who have displayed extraordinary degree of citizenship and patriotism while participating in Junior ROTC. The award was presented to Cadets Mason Harris and Gabriel Cuellar.
The Military Officer’s Association JROTC Medal was presented to Cadet Adrienne Gardner.
The honors keep coming
The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States is one of the oldest veterans’ associations in the nation. This award was presented to Cadet Jean Carlos Berroa.
The award sponsored by the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Northern Masonic Jurisdiction recognizes scholastic excellence and demonstrated Americanism in supporting the United States of America as a member of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. This medal was given to Cadet Eric Testa.
Charted by Congress in 1958, The Military Order of the Purple Heart is composed of military men and women who have received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered while in combat. The Military Order of the Purple Heart's Youth Programs are focused on fostering patriotism and good citizenship among America's youth. Cadet Zachary Sparks was presented with the medal.
From the Fort Lowell Apache Charter in Tucson, Arizona, the United States Army Warrant Officer Association Medal is presented to the following cadets, for professionalism, skill, character and leadership displayed by Junior ROTC Cadets.
The Copper Medal; Cadet Maverick Sroka, the Bronze medal, Cadet Jesahias Quiroa, the Silver Medal, Cadet Robert Josephson and the Gold medal to Cadet Patricia Anne Flor.
The NCOA award recognizes the most outstanding enlisted Cadet from private through sergeant major in the Unit during the past academic year. The award is presented to the enlisted Cadet who has consistently exhibited the best military bearing, personal appearance, work ethic and leadership ability.
Receiving this award allows the nominated Cadet to apply for the NCOA scholarship during their senior year of high school. The NCOA award was presented to Cadet Elijah Rivera.
The purpose of the MOAA ROTC medal is to recognize outstanding JROTC Cadets or midshipmen who have demonstrated outstanding competence in JROTC skills and has contributed to the common good of the school and community.
Cadet Soknarith Sem was presented with the ROA medal.
The Military Order of the World Wars was created in 1919 by General John J. Pershing as a fraternity for American military officers after World War I. Since the order’s establishment in 1919, members have lived by the Military Order's motto, “It is nobler to serve than to be served.” Cadet Sean Stewart received the medal.
The AUSA Medal was presented to junior: Cadet Miliedy Urizar, and senior Cadet Jessica Taing.
The National Sojourners is a fraternal organization that supports everything patriotic and American and is dedicated to opposing any influence intended to weaken the United States of America. Their JROTC Award recognizes a Cadet who has excelled in JROTC and is an example for other Cadets to follow. Cadet Chenda Rivera was given the medal.
The Sons of the American Revolution Award was presented to Cadet Christopher McGuire, and the Daughter of the American Revolution Award was given to Cadet Kailey Lenk.
The Rhode Island Army National Guard Minuteman Award was given to Cadet Paola Henry-Mejia.
The United States Army Recruiting Command JROTC Medal was awarded to Cadets Jacob Bullard and Alexandra Jones
The JROTC Superior Cadet Medal is a U.S. Military decoration awarded by the Department of the Army and limited to one Cadet at each Leadership Education Level deemed to be the very best for that school year.
This year, the Department of the Army awards the JROTC Superior Cadet Medal to: (LET 1) Cadet Genesis Aldana, (LET 2), Cadet Jadin Gagnon, (LET 3), Cadet Joseph Bellotti, and (LET 4), Cadet Jessica Taing.
Colonel Murray ended the ceremony with a short history lesson and what it means to be a leader, to be determined and to possess the will never to give up.
He spoke of the Hundred Years War and how the British though outnumbered and outpowered, persevered to win.
His closing words to his cadets were heartfelt and yet practical.
“The class of 2017, as JROTC Cadets, you’ve been a band of brothers and sisters for the last four years; as you start the next chapter in your life I ask you to consider, and live by these ideas: There is no such thing as a problem – there are only challenges, challenges present opportunities, opportunities lead to achievement. Never give up. Never make excuses. Never lose faith. Face all your challenges head on and with a positive attitude. And, achieve what you believe to be impossible,” he said.
