ROTC, JROTC Cadet Awards Ceremonies

COL, Ret. Arthur Tulak, Chairman of the Cadet Awards Committee

The Corona Virus pandemic continued to disrupt the annual awards ceremonies in 2021, as the ROTC and JROTC programs attempted to switch to on-line venues to recognize their top-performing cadets. Companion Tulak participated in the on-line Joint Army and Air Force ceremony held on ZOOM on May 6th, presenting for the MOFW and the Hawaii Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. This first ever virtual awards ceremony held jointly by Army ROTC Warrior Battalion and Air Force ROTC Detachment 175, was followed later in the day with an in-person ceremony, where Companion Tulak presented awards on behalf of the Hawaii Chapter of the AUSA, which is a sponsor of the Commandery’s Cadet programs. Companion Tulak “virtually” congratulated Cadets Arias and Atkins on receiving the Leadership Excellence Medal, and Cadets Betancourt and Driscoll for the Academic Excellence Medal.

JROTC awards

Just a few of the JROTC Cadre reported the names of the cadets receiving the Siler Academic and Bronze Leadership MOFW Medals. Here is a summary compiled from those individual reports received before publication: • McKinley High School Army JROTC: C/SSG Tyger Young received the Silver Academics Medal, and C/PFC

Travis Tran the Bronze Leadership Medal. • Waianae High School JROTC: Silver: Cadet C/CSM Jared Bacon • Nanakuli Army JROTC Cadet Private First Class Sandrine Marquez & Cadet Private First Class Hana Kekiwi-

Todd • Kealakehe High School Army JROTC: Silver Academic Medal to Cadet Forella, Xayvion, and the Bronze leadership medal to Cadet Friday, Kam-Zara • Leilehua High School Army JROTC MOFW Leadership Excellence - Cadet Juwan Gwinn and MOFW Academic Excellence - Cadet Zamamrie Familia • Kapaa HS Army ROTC : Bronze: c/SGM Keio Wakuta Silver: c/ SSG Kevin Dolino • Mililani High School Army JROTC : MOFW (Silver) - Cadet LET 3 Cyan Tote, (Bronze) Cadet LET 3 Joshua

Deuz (Mililani High School) • Nile C. Kinnick High School Navy JROTC, Yokusaka Japan The Commandery looks forward to next year’s awards ceremonies to once again present these medals in person at the annual Cadet Awards Ceremonies.

Congratulations to all awardees!!

Cadet Patrick Nguyen, recipient of the Silver Academics Medal, Nile C. Kinnick High School, Yokusaka Japan. Cadet Maria Pidgeon, recipient of the Bronze Leadership Medal, Nile C. Kinnick High School, Yokusaka Japan. C/CSM Jared Bacon is the recipient of the Silver Academics Medal from Waianae High School Army JROTC.