JROTC Awards

WWHS JROTC 2018-2019 cadets hold military ball, upcoming promotions announced, cadet awards presented

The cadets of the Walla Walla High School JROTC program held their annual military ball Saturday. The highlight of the evening was the announcement of awards earned and the slate of cadet promotions for next year.

* Senior Army Instructor Leadership Award: LET 1 – Makayla Schille; LET 2 - Luke Matlock; LET 3 - Kail Lynn; LET 4 - Cameron McFetridge.

* JROTC Distinguished Service Award: LET 1 – Amu Maxwell; LET 2 – Jarek Hamm; LET 4 – Shane Schoessler.

* Washington Army National Guard Award: Noah Butler.

* Reserve Officers Association JROTC Achievement Award: Cara West.

* Non-Commissioned Officers Association Award: Benjamin Bialozor (who has also received an Army ROTC Scholarship).

* Association of the United States Army: Alex Young.

* 82d Airborne Division Award: Adam Justice.

* Daughters of the American Revolution: Katherine Thompson.

* Sons of the American Revolution: Shaun Marek.

* Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War - Ramone Lopez.

* AMVETS - Taylor Carlile.

* American Legion: Scholastic excellence - Bret Ferguson; Military Excellence - Landon Grimm; Marksmanship - Kyle Martin.

* Veterans of Foreign Wars: KaiRhea Gordon.

* Military Order of the Purple Heart: Z Kinchloe.

* Military Order of the World Wars: Chris Davin.

* Scottish Rite of Freemasonry JROTC Achievement Award: Brock Betzler.

* Mike Dunham Distinguished Leadership Award - Melinda Locke and Alex Young

* Commander’s Commendation Medal: Jazmyn Paul, Seth White, and Annie Young.

* Distinguished Cadet Award: Grace Anderson

* Superior Cadet Award (each LET level recipient also earned certificates of achievement from the Military Order of the World Wars): LET 1 - Hazel Wilburn, LET 2 - Dakota Buman, LET 3 - Madeline Steinle, LET 4 - Melinda Locke.

Next year's leaders in the Blue Devil chain of command will be:

Executive Officer - c/MAJ Cara West. She will oversee the battalion staff comprised of:

S1 (personnel) - c/Capt. Cody Dobbins

S2 (security and intelligence) - c/Capt. Katherine Thompson

S3 (operations and training) - c/Capt. Bret Ferguson

S4 (logistics and supply) - c/Capt. Isolda Sept, and she will be assisted by c/1st Lt. Ethan Thompson, Assistant S4, c/Master Sgt. Austin Brood, Logistics NCO

S5 (Public Affairs, responsible for public information and cadet battalion newsletter) - c/Capt. Gabby Neagle

S6 (Technology) - c/Capt. Thomas Brashear

S8 (Battalion Activities) - c/Capt. Kendra Coers

S9 (Fitness) - c/Capt. Nancy Aquirre

S10 (Information and Promotion) - c/Capt. Sonia Soto.

The next Blue Devils Rifle Team Captain will be c/Capt. Madeline Steinle.

The new company commanders, who will be promoted to cadet 1st Lt., are: Grace Anderson,  KaiRhea Gordon, Jarek Hamm, Josh Hunter, Z Kinchloe, and Luke Matlock. The new company First Sergeants will be: Hunter Ansorge, Dakota Buman, Austin Clifton, Bryan Garcia, and Josh Grau.