Matthew C. Perry High School took top honors in this year’s Far East Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Competition, here March 30 through April 1.
A total of 12 schools from Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps installations from across the Pacific region came to Iwakuni to participate in the three-day competition.
The competition challenged junior cadets in marksmanship, close order drill and physical training.
The junior cadets from M.C. Perry took the top spots in all three areas.
“Some schools are good only at drill, some are good only at shooting and others can only PT,” said Duane Dougherty, a retired gunnery sergeant and M.C. Perry’s head JROTC instructor. “M.C. Perry on the other hand, can do it all.”
M.C. Perry JROTC cadets trained in drill, marksmanship and PT up to three hours a day both before and after school for the entire month preceding the competition.
They received gold medallions in all three event areas and swept away their competition.
“It was because of all the hours we spent preparing for this competition that we were able to do so well,” said Justin R. Clement, M.C. Perry’s JROTC unit commander. “M.C. Perry is not known for winning Far East competitions in basketball, baseball or any other sports. However, our JROTC program has brought pride to our school two years in a row.”
The M.C. Perry JROTC cadets impressed several Marine judges by showing professionalism, physical fitness, leadership traits and proficiency in marksmanship and drill.
“As a former drill instructor, I see in these cadets future honor grads, guides and squad leaders,” said Gunnery Sgt. John E. Ramos, a drill evaluator at the 2009 Far East JROTC competition. “I’m thoroughly impressed with their performance and feel as though they can take on a recruit any day.”