Photo Information

Cadets from Castle High School?s MCJROTC hold on tightly during a ride on a water boat, also known as a Zodiac, during day two of their spring camp. Other cadets practiced Marine Corps Martial Arts while waiting for their ride.

Photo by Sgt. Sara A. Carter

Spring Camp: Cadets are taught leadership, build confidence

19 Mar 2007 | Sgt. Sara A. Carter Marine Corps Base Hawaii

Most students look forward to their spring break. The majority of them hang out with friends, soak up the sun, surf at the beach, or lounge around the house during their time off. But not everyone was enjoying these activities during their two weeks off.

Approximately 44 students from Castle High School’s Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Corps spent three days
participating in a variety of activities on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay March 19 to 21 as part of their spring camp.

“(This camp) gives the cadets a better perception of the Marine Corps and military in general,” said retired Sergeant Maj. John Ah Chick, who has run the school’s MCJROTC program since it was established in 1995. “It teaches them small-unit leadership and teamwork.”

The cadets were given a couple of briefs and time to get situated on the first day, then split into two groups. One started at the Base Pool where they learned about water survival, and the other went to the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer.
After the groups switched activities, they had lunch at Anderson Hall Dining Facility and moved on to the Base Marina.

Six cadets at a time rode aboard a water boat called a Zodiac as it crashed through waves, while the remainder of the group, who were waiting for their turn on the Zodiac, practiced Marine Corps Martial Arts.

“The boats were the most fun,” said ninth grader Abram Pauole.

Day three turned out to be exciting and scary for some. It stared with gas chamber training then rappelling down the side of the rappel tower.  For most, the gas chamber wasn’t too bad, but some had a difficult time rappelling.
Pauole, who rappelled twice, had a difficult time going down the tower both times.

“It was scary going backwards – not being able to see where you are going,” he said.

He wasn’t the only cadet who was scared to go down the tower. Many of the cadet’s knees shook as they stood with their heels off the edge of the tower. It took a couple attempts for some to finally gain the courage to take the first step off the edge.

But like Pauole, many overcame their fear and made it to the bottom with a new sense of confidence.

“The training we do is to teach (the cadets) they can do anything they put their mind to,” said Ah Chick.

After the rappel tower, the students had a Meals Ready to Eat for lunch, and then completed a couple of Leadership Reaction Course situations and the Obstacle Course.

Eleventh grader Sosefo Naufahu said the training the MCJROTC does is “absolutely fun” and the benefits of it are that it keeps cadets in shape, teaches them to be leaders, and how to work as a team.

“This (program) has opened a door to me,” said Naufahu, who has participated in the program for three years, “It has shown me what I can do in the future.”

Naufahu plans on joining the Marine Corps once he graduates high school, which, according to Ah Chick, isn’t unusual. Ah Chick explained there are usually one or two who join the Corps after graduation. Last year, six cadets joined the Marine Corps after graduation.

Ah Chick said he believes the students enjoy the program, it keeps them out of trouble, and prepares them for the future.

“We have to kick them out at the end of the day and tell them to go home,” he said as he laughed.

The cadets from Castle High School, along with cadets from around the country, will attend a weeklong leadership camp aboard K-Bay in July.