Welcome Newsletter

Thunderbird
Issue 1

eahsjrotc.webs.com
Issue 1

Trumpet
“Choose Greatness…
Strive for Excellence! ”
Cadets Power Through JBER
Welcome All!
Welcome All! - Spring is not the
only season for new beginnings. While
summer comes to an end, the new school
year is now in session. The youth are
turned back into a group of scholars as
they focus in on their education once
again and readjust to their new
classrooms.
For many, the shift into high
school can be an anxious one. Some
friends have moved and many more will
not share the same class schedule with
you. But as time goes by, things will
become more natural for you and you will
be ready to tackle high school life.
For the Thunderbird Battalion of
East High School, the new school year
means that an opportunity to excel in
JROTC awaits. Equipped with a new staff
and chain of command, the Thunderbird
Battalion is ready for all the challenges and
Battalion is ready to go this upcoming
school year. “I expect that it will be a great
year for the program and as a team we will
all be working together to make this a very
successful year to remember.” – Cadet
Angellica Enguillado, Battalion
Commander. (Continued in the short
“Getting to Know: The Battalion
Commander”).
First, we welcome all returning
cadets. Without your support and
commitment, the battalion would not have
been able to be so successful in the
previous year. From placing in numerous
competition drill categories to completing
countless hours of community service, the
Thunderbird Battalion lived up to the
cadet creed by demonstrating “good
citizenship and patriotism.”

The returning cadets would like
to welcome cadets transferring other
JROTC programs. We in the Thunderbird
Battalion will try our best to make it as
welcoming as your previous program! We
know that your efforts will reflect the
highest degree of great cadet-hood and
student academics that all Thunderbird
members strive to achieve.
Finally, a warm welcome to all of
1
st
year cadets! As LET 1’s, if you choose
to stay in this program, you will be
learning all the fundamentals of the
JROTC program throughout your first
year as a cadet. Although some are no
strangers to the school, you are all the
future of this program and represent
leaders in the years to come. We wish
everyone a great school year!
-Cadet Daerique Enriquez, S5

Cadets listen attentively as the instructor gives a lesson on land navigation.
Many East Cadets
asked, “Where’s the challenge in
summer cap?” as they turn five days of
hardship into five days of fun. Through
obstacles and 6AM physical training, the
cadets managed to conquer the JROTC
Cadet Leadership Challenge (JCLC).
The 2014 JCLC camp ran from
May 27
th
to June 1
st
, uniting cadets from
East, Bartlett, Colony, and Nome. The
Thunderbird Battalion entered the camp
ready for action. After a brief wet up at
the barracks tents, the cadets
immediately formed into their platoons
and jumped into the activities.
(Continued on Page 1)→
Introduction Page 0
2014 - 2015

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Cadets Power Through JBER – by Cadet Logan O’Carroll

(Continued from Page 0) Each day of JCLC
began at five in the morning with an hour of Physical
Training (PT), followed by a breakfast at The Warrior Zone, a
dining facility located on JBER. Once cadets were finished
warming up and getting energized for the day, they split into
two groups for the activities. The two groups were composed
of three platoons, one from each school. After the cadets
finished their training events, they took a break to rest,
socialize, and eat their Meals Ready to Eat (or MREs) before
they moved onto the second activity. The activities were then
followed by dinner, personal hygiene, drill practice, and then
an hour of free time before lights out.


The first day of the 2014 JCLC included the
Obstacle Course and the Jump Tower. In this event, the
cadets must maneuver through various obstacles that test
their physical and mental capabilities, such as the low crawl
and the weaver. The first group of cadets to run the obstacle
powered through, although the course was stopped short due
to bear sightings in the vicinity! “We were surrounded by
them!" Cadet Enriquez said, referencing to the bears that
stopped the Obstacle Course, "We had to get a jeep to escort
us out. Safety comes first for the people in the Army, and
today was no exception." For the Jump Tower, cadets
simulated a parachute deployment by gearing up and jumping
off the 36 foot tower. The first cadets to attempt the Jump
Tower were those from Bartlett, letting out screams of terror
as the spun around in the air, making a memorable first day.

The second day consisted of the Leadership
Reaction Course (LRC) and the Fire House Demo. The
Leadership Reaction Course tested the cadets’ ability to
effectively work together as a team. In the LRC, the cadets
elected a leader in their group to lead them through a difficult
task. Unseen before by the Thunderbird Battalion was the
Fire House Demo. With a help from the Elmendorf Fire and
Emergency Detachment on JBER, cadet’s hustled through
over and into various tasks with their team to compete and
see which team was the fastest. However, the event had an
interesting twist to it: cadets were mixed into interschool
teams which challenged them to communicate with people
they usually do not work with.

The third day of JCLC challenged cadets with land
navigation. Cadets had to navigate through the woods and
locate various stations around the camp. Groups of six or so
cadets were led by seasoned cadets, who had learned the skills
necessary for this challenge during the school year. A
particular group, led by Cadet Jada Nguyen, went on a
journey which led them farther than any of the other cadets
that day. She explained that orienteering itself is something
simple, but “things that are easy are not, if you do something
wrong”. Despite their excruciating journey, the cadets found
their way back to camp with minimal injury and in great
spirits.
On the fourth day of JCLC, the day’s business
consisted of Drown Proofing, as well as the Drill
Competition, which all cadets either feared or anticipated. In
Drown Proofing, cadets were divided into two groups,
swimmers and non-swimmers. Both groups learned the value
of the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) when it came to
preventing one from drowning (no cadets were harmed in
this event). The day had also accompanied many preparations
for the camp’s end, as uniforms were collected by instructors.
In the afternoon, it was time for war, as the schools
competed against each other, and themselves. All schools
demonstrated impressive drill capability, but when the smoke
cleared, East High had claimed both 1st and 2nd place, with
Bartlett coming in at 3rd. Instructors from other schools
admitted that the competition wasn’t even close, as the
Thunderbird Battalion took it by storm. The 1st place drill
team, led by Cadet Dario Nunez, as well as the 2nd place
team led by Jada Nguyen, demonstrated impressive execution
in their movements. “I believed we had the potential and
motivation when we were on the floor." said Cadet Nguyen.
Although the cadets were the ones who performed, the
competition would not have been possible without the
careful preparation of East High’s very own First Sergeant
Watts, replicating a drill floor reminiscent of the drill meets
cadets had grown to love.

When the final day of JCLC came, it was time for
cadets to reap their reward. Known in the books as water
survival, cadets were transported to H2Oasis, a popular
Alaskan water park. Hours of relaxation and fun awaited the
seasoned cadets, as they sat in hot tubs, slid down waterslides,
and cruised downstream. Cadets had found both the fun, and
the challenge of JCLC, and though the road was tough, they
took with them memories that will last a lifetime. However,
this is not where it ends, cadets. JCLC will start up again
Tuesday, May 26, 2015, and run until May 30.
Cadet Yang and Cadet Eastman un-kink fire
hoses during the JBER Fire Department Demo.
Cadet Nunez leads the way as 2
nd
Platoon
marches into 1
st
place.
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The New Commanders:
Battalion Commander (BC)
Cadet Major Angelica Enguillado
Battalion Command Sergeant Major (CSM)
Cadet Command Sergeant Major Madeline Lewis

Alpha Company (Aco)Commander
Cadet First Lieutenant Ioasa Taliulu
Aco First Sergeant
Cadet First Sergeant Xiong Yang

Bravo Company (Bco) Commander
Cadet First Lieutenant Pitthawat Bunnam
Bco First Sergeant
Cadet First Sergeant Sarah Mesik
The New Staff:
Battalion Executive Officer (XO)
Cadet Captain Zachary Lyons
Administrative Officer (S1)
Cadet Sergeant First Class Barbara Yang
Security Information Officer (S2)
Cadet Sergeant Tolupene Mattau
Training and Operations (S3)
Cadet Second Lieutenant Jada Nguyen
Logistics and Supply (S4)
Cadet Staff Sergeant Chun Lee
Special Projects & Public Affairs (S5)
Cadet Staff Sergeant Daerique Enriquez
Funds Resourcing Officer (S7)
Cadet Sergeant First Class Dario Nunez
Getting to Know: The Battalion
Commander
Hi guys Angelica Enguillado here. I'm 17 years old and I have been
in the JROTC program ever since the start of my freshman year and
now going into my senior year. JROTC has been a big part of my
high school life and I don’t regret being in it. Being in the program
has helped me learn so much and met many great people.

What do you do for the Thunderbird Battalion?
BC: Well I am the BC for the school year 2014-2015. As the BC, I am responsible to
maintain a close and direct relationship with all staff and company commanders, arrange
required meetings and assemble required command or staff personnel to determine
actions that is necessary in fulfilling obligations of the cadet battalion, and ensure that all
staff and company commanders are doing what their supposed to do and can carry out all
obligations. I also coordinate with the school authorities in coordinating activities for the
cadet battalion and make sure it is in the accordance of the school policies. I am also
responsible for the all battalion does or fails to do.

In all your years of JROTC, did you ever think you would be the Battalion
Commander?
BC: To be honest I never thought that I would become the BC but I know I am willing
to take the opportunity and be the BC of the program with all my ability to help and
make sure that the battalion is a great success and make it a fun year for the program and
all its cadets.

What do you expect to happen in this upcoming year? This school year I except that
it will be a great year for the program and as a team we will all be working together to
make this a very successful year to remember.

Any final thoughts, comments, or words of wisdom?
BC: Throughout my years in high school I have learned to set my goals high and strive to
work to my best abilities. Even though I’m not an astronaut I will aim for the moon and
even if I don’t succeed I will at least fall within the stars. Life is way too short to have
regrets and not strive to the very best of your abilities that why you should always strives
to the top from start to end.
An Interview with the Command Sergeant Major
I am Madeline Lewis, the
Cadet Command
Sergeant Major (CSM), I
am seventeen years of
age and I am a LET 3.




As the CSM, what do you do for the Battalion?
As CSM I am the highest ranking NCO, I am in charge of all enlisted
members of the battalion. I also take care of paperwork for
community service events, flag detail, and other service learning
events. I am in charge of all color guard functions as well.

In all your years of JROTC, did you ever think you would be the
CSM?
CSM: My first week into JROTC I knew I wanted to be the CSM, I
was interested in the job from the very start and strived to achieve
my goal of being CSM.

And what do you expect to happen in this upcoming year?
CSM: I expect great changes for the battalion this year, we have an
excellent group of staff who I believe are perfect for the jobs they
were given or chosen for. I believe this year will be one of the
greatest year’s our school has had in a long time.

Any final thoughts, comments, or words of wisdom you wish to
share with readers of the Thunderbird Trumpet?
CSM: Work hard and just drill, hooah!
The New Crew – By Cadet Daerique Enriquez
The 2013-2014 school year concluded
with the graduation of one of the greatest group
of seniors the battalion has had the pleasure of
having. Their tremendous efforts to the program
means that the shoes they once wore must be
filled with great, if not greater people if the
battalion wants to be just as successful as it was
last year. This challenge will be met with the
appointments of the new commanders and staff.
With a workforce determined to make the school
year better, the Thunderbird Battalion looks to
be on track to becoming even more successful.

Commanders and Staff of the Battalion
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a
I AM AN ARMY
JUNIOR ROTC
CADET!