Hopi High JROTC earns Honor of Distinction for second time

Hopi JROTC cadet leaders posed with inspector Mark
Ehresman. From left are, Ronisha Lopez, Ehresman, Lauren Lomatska and Jeremy Naha (Photo by Stan Bindell/Observer).

Hopi JROTC cadet leaders posed with inspector Mark Ehresman. From left are, Ronisha Lopez, Ehresman, Lauren Lomatska and Jeremy Naha (Photo by Stan Bindell/Observer).

POLACCA-Hopi High School's Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps received an Honor of Distinction rating during a formal inspection Feb. 1 at the school.

The rating places Hopi High in the top 10 percent in the state and the nation and each cadet receives a yellow star.

It also makes it easier for Hopi High JROTC Major Phillip Taylor to nominate his students to the various military academies, and it makes it more likely cadets will receive JROTC scholarships.

The inspection is done every three years and Hopi High's JROTC also received the Honor of Distinction three years ago.

"It's the kids who did it, and they received the awards, and they deserve all the attention. It's all about the kids," Major Taylor said.

JROTC Operations officers Mark Ehresman, Sunni Rae and Mark Thompson conducted the inspection. Ehresman is the senior instructor for the JROTC at Embry Riddle University in Prescott. Rae and Thompson are based in California.

"The color guard was very impressive. I should bring my kids up from Embry Riddle to see them," Ehresman said.

Ehresman personally inspected the cadets, their uniforms, the drill team and their ceremony performances.

Sgt. Taylor said he was grateful to the cadets because they performed well.

"This was their day to shine," he said.

The Hopi High JROTC received 585 points out of a possible 600 in order to receive the Honor of Distinction.

"That's way high," Taylor responded. "They did super. I'm proud of the cadets because they did what they were asked."

Part of the inspection included a briefing as several of the cadets informed the inspectors about all the things they do. The cadets reviewed JROTC curriculum, various staff areas, security operations, training and public affairs.

Sgt. Taylor said the inspectors were impressed by the parent and school support that the JROTC receives at Hopi High.

Battalion Commander Lauren Lomatska said the cadets were confident they would get a high rating because they practiced hard. She noted that only four of 65 cadets were absent.

Lomatska said the high rating shows the Hopi High cadets are good at what they're doing.

"I thank the cadets for their hard work. We were ready to answer questions," she said. "I thank the battalion staff for pushing everybody."

Command Sgt. Major Ronisha Lopez said all the cadets wore their insignias, their berets and assisted the leaders with the inspection.

"It's a good feeling to get the Honor of Distinction. It took time and work to get it," she said. Jeremy Naha, a cadet who is also part of the Hopi High JROTC leadership team, said his role was to keep the staff in line and make sure they were doing their job.

Naha said the Hopi High JROTC cadets deserved the honor as they planned and worked for it throughout this school year.

"It didn't happen by accident. It came through hard work," he said.

Naha said their performance could be improved if they spent more time planning and practicing.

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