Paloma Valley NJROTC wins Area meet, qualifies for nationals

Members of the Paloma Valley High School NJROTC unit take part in the Area 11 Field Meet Feb. 24. The team placed first overall.

The Paloma Valley High School NJROTC unit continued its tradition of excellence with its best-ever performance Feb. 24, placing first in the Area 11 Field Meet, otherwise known as the NJROTC Super Bowl.

Competing against 16 other school units from California and Arizona that qualified for the meet, the Wildcat Battalion compiled enough points in 11 events to win it all and earn a trip to Pensacola, Florida April 6-7 for the NJROTC Navy Nationals. Paloma Valley placed third in the state Field Meet the last three years.

“We finally broke the glass ceiling,” said Master Sgt. Frank Puebla, who commands the Paloma Valley unit.

The competition included five close-order drills, a personnel inspection, academic test and four fitness tests.

“We qualified last year when we finished third in this meet, but we didn’t raise enough funds to make the trip,” Puebla said. “Now, with the money we collected before and this year, we’re better prepared.

“Our mantra is ‘consistent and never-ending improvement.' I’ve been here six-plus years, and we’ve lived true to that adage every year.”