JROTC cadets train alongside Pacific Teachers of the Year at Torii Station
The two-day event brought together Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Marine Corps and Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets and DoWEA 2027 Pacific Teachers of the Year.
Teachers and cadets learned weapons fundamentals on a virtual firing range, navigated a combat obstacle course and practiced lifesaving skills during casualty care training.
For the Pacific Teachers of the Year, the day offered a chance to train alongside the cadets and get a closer look at resources available to the military community they serve.
Michelle Morales, DoWEA Pacific East District 2027 Teacher of the Year, Yokosuka Middle School, took on the obstacle course and other training during the visit.
“When you sign up to be a teacher, I don’t think everyone’s ultimate goal is to be Teacher of the Year,” she said. “You want to make an impact in your students’ lives, and sometimes it’s in the classroom, sometimes it’s outside the classroom.”
While the event gave participants an opportunity to experience military training, its impact extended beyond the skills they practiced, giving cadets a chance to build confidence, leadership and teamwork outside the classroom.
“Our program gives students an opportunity to grow, mature and develop as leaders,” said U.S. Marine Corps retired Sgt. Maj. Brent Cook, Marine Corps JROTC instructor at Kubasaki High School and 2026 Teacher of the Year. “You watch them go from being quiet to becoming confident.”
Those lessons can extend beyond JROTC. James Johnson, a Kubasaki senior and third-year cadet who hopes to commission as a Marine Corps officer, said one of the most important lessons he has learned applies regardless of the path he takes.
“I think what I’ve learned in JROTC is to have empathy,” Johnson said. “A lot of people are going to go through stuff you don’t know about. Just be empathetic."
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