ROTC, JROTC Cadet Awards Ceremonies

JROTC awards

ROTC and JROTC Cadet Awards Program 2021

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

Companions were pleased to once again attend annual Cadet Awards ceremonies and to work alongside many other Civic, Veteran, and professional associations in recognizing the top-performing cadets at the annual awards ceremonies. Nearly all the JROTC units conducted in-person ceremonies, but some were restricted to the classroom, without presenters from the organization. Companions Curtis, Hirai, Manchester, Staedel, and Tulak covered multiple schools. In addition, this year the Commandery had a great number of active-duty military from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Special Operations Command Pacific, Pacific Fleet, Joint Inter-Agency Task Force West, Army Garrison Command, and Pacific Air Forces. These volunteers are listed below: Lt Col Christopher D. Parker, USAF Deputy Command Surgeon/ Chief of Med Plans & Ops, SOCPAC, at Kaimuki LCol Adam P. Barsby, Canadian Army, Canadian Liaison Officer at Punahou CDR Jon “JD” Davis, J365 INDOPACOM at Campbell H.S. WO1, S. Kai Bovaird, Joint Interagency Task Force – West at Waipahu CW4, Ret. Keith Pang, SOJ35 Deputy Chief of Future Operations, SOCPAC at Nanakuli Col Richard C. Tanner, USAF, Chief, Space and IAMD Division, USINDOPACOM, at Kailua MAJ, Paris C. Holman, Chief, Military Human Resources, USINDOPACOM at Leilehua in Wahiawa Col Rob Flannery, USMC, USINDOPACOM, J35 Future Operations at Kalaheo Lt Col Brion “P-17” Piriyakarnjanakul, USAF INDOPACOM PCJ6, at Kaiser Air Force JROTC

Mahalo to Companions who volunteered to make the presentations, and to our fellow volunteers in other Veterans organizations who presented on our behalf, where we could not send a presenter.

Companion Tulak Presenting the Silver Academic Medal to Cadet Angel Umagot, and the Bronze Leadership Medal to Cadet Mori, 11 May 2022 at Farrington H.S.

LTCOL Adam Barsby, the Canadian LNO to U.S. Indl-Pacific Command, presents the MOFW Medals to Cadets ?? And ?? Punahou Army JROTC Awards Ceremony on May 2nd, as SAI LTC Takao looks on.

Companion Hirai awarded the MOFW Medal, Ribbon, and Certificates to Cadets of the Waianae High School "Searider" Battalion on12 May. At left, Cadet accepts the award on behalf of Cadet 2LT Anela Bacon. At right Cadet LTC Franz Hafner Companion Staedel at Mililani H>S Army JROTC, presenting the Silver Academic Medal to Cadet Margaret Juettner, and the Bronze Leadership Medal to Cadet Leonardo Sabetta,

Photo above left: Companions Staedel, Garcia and Manchester, with Cadet Sarah Hoemgood. Sarah was first class of the University of Hawaii Navy ROTC to receive the MOFW Bronze Leadership Medal. Photo above: Companion Curtis with Cadet Tei, who received the SCV H.L. Hunley medal, one of the many awards he presented at Kahuku High School Photo at Left: Waipahu High School, LTC, Ret. Toni Correa presents the Silver Academic to CDT Major Jhanella Gerardo, and the Bronze Leadership medal to CDT Raffaele Barry, 6 May 2022.

Companion Dan Garcia presented an MOFW Eagle Scout certificate to Connor Jensik, of Troop 24, at his Eagle Court of Honor on May 7th at the Chapel on Wheeler Army Airfield. Connor is the son of COL Michael C. Jensik and Amy Jensik. Connor’s father Michael serves as the Commander 8th Military Police Brigade and as Director of Emergency Services.

Connor’s Eagle Scout Service Project was a trail improvement project at the Wheeler Saddle Club on Wheeler Army Airfield, Wahiawa, HI. Wheeler Stables offers memberships to active duty, retirees, dependents and Gold Star families for their horses. It has a variety of equestrian services to include lodging (stalls/stables), and exercise areas/equipment (outdoor arena; round pen; plenty of jumps, barrels, and poles; various fields; two large turnout areas; and many miles of trails). The purpose of the project was to improve one of the popular trails used for recreational use for both horseback riders and hikers.

A huge portion of the trail was damaged and untraversable due to the elements with land erosion and fallen debris. There was also a steep slope due to poor rain drainage/run off that horses and their riders were no longer able to ride through safely. It was too steep and more like a ledge they were unable to step down to the lower portion of the trail. Connor’s project from start to finish, to include multiple site surveys, planning, gathering of materials, and the actual labor totaled 96 hours in five phases. The first phase of the project was clearing the trail of leaves, litter, tree branches, palm fronds, and other fallen debris. The second phase was to widen the trail to at least 5 feet using shovels and pick axes. The third phase was adding weather-treated wooden guardrails with metal mount posts for stability to the drop off side of the trail which ran parallel to the deep ravine with a stream. The fourth phase was installing three large graded horse “steps” on the steep slope of the trail. This phase of the project involved packing the built wooden step foundations with soil, rocks, and gravel for better drainage. The fifth and final phase was laying mulch on the entire length of the improved trail. Wheeler Saddle Club was very pleased with the work and it was met with enthusiasm from both riders and their horses, too. Connor hopes the efforts of this project will preserve the trail for years of recreational use with minimal maintenance required for the patrons at Wheeler Saddle Club. Connor and Troop 24 thought it was a fun and very rewarding service project to do for the local military community. Connor passed his Eagle Board on 31 JAN 2022

COL Jensik complemented the Commandery for its “Absolutely PHENOMENAL support!” and we are pleased to have been a part of this important event recognizing Connor’s achievement.