Paloma Valley Battlecats set for NJROTC drill nationals

Members of the Paloma Valley High NJROTC Battalion take part in the March 15 military inspection. Photos courtesy of MSgt Frank Puebla

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The Battlecat Drill Team, a unit of the Paloma Valley High School NJROTC Battalion, is preparing for a return to the Navy Nationals in Florida with the goal of improving upon last year's performance.

There's only one way to do that, and that's to win the national drill championship. The Battlecats finished second in the nation last year and are primed for another standout performance. They will leave April 3 for the nationals, which are scheduled for April 5-6 in Pensacola.

Paloma Valley performed well in passing its annual military inspection March 15. In that event, ROTC leaders inspected the Battalion's discipline, leadership, supplies and operations. The event was dedicated to the memory of Jake Drost, a freshman cadet who died after collapsing during a workout last October.

During the event, Drost was posthumously promoted to cadet seaman.

Cadets spelled out "DROST" in the stands during the military inspection.

Prior to the military inspection, the Battlecats competed in the state drill competition. The defending state champions finished second in a close competition.

"After state we said, 'OK, we're going to make people wonder how we finished second in state and won nationals," said Master Sgt. Frank Puebla, who is the adult leader of the unit.

Puebla said he will take 54 of the 200 cadets in the program to Florida to represent the Battalion. Cadets must compete in 11 events. These include a personal inspection in uniform; five drills, including armed and unarmed basic and exhibition drills; four physical drills including pushups, situps and two relay races; and a 100-question academic exam.

"No team from the west coast has ever won, so we're poised to make history," Puebla said. "These are very dedicated cadets. Before school, they spend an hour and a half, then they spend half their lunch with us, then they spend two to two and a half hours after school. They learn concepts of unselfishness, time management, being team minded, and conflict resolution.

"The end goal is not necessarily being No. 1; that is a byproduct of what we do. Discipline is stressed over all else."

The top leadership roles in the program are held by Commander Victoria Acoff, Cadet Commander Officer; Lt. Commander Teresa Antonio, Cadet Executive Officer; Master Chief Petty Officer Ian Ritchie, Cadet Senior Enlisted Advisor; Lt. Abigail Tillman, Alpha Company Commander; and Benjamin Minadeo, Bravo Company Commander.