Submitted by: LTC(R) Kevin J. Yatar
Photo by: LTC(R) Kevin J. Yatar
“It’s been a challenging yet rewarding school year that has flown by quickly” says Jeremyah Camacho, a third year Cadet with the Simon A. Sanchez High School Army JROTC Shark Battalion (Yigo, Guam). The recipient of five college scholarship offers, Cadet Camacho is in his senior year and serves as the Cadet Battalion Command Sergeant Major, a position he worked hard to attain and excel in.
After speaking with his older brother, a Staff Sergeant currently on active duty in the US Army and his parents (father, a retired Army National Guardsman), and weighing all the options, Camacho accepted the scholarship offer from Valley Forge Military Academy and College (Wayne, PA).
“I looked over all the offers I received from the other schools (New Mexico Military Institute, Marian Military Institute, Georgia Military Academy, and the University of Guam Senior ROTC) and determined that the best option was Valley Forge Military Academy and College. The opportunity to earn an early commission after completing two years of studies and then return home to Guam to complete my final two years towards a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, is exactly what I was looking for. When Valley Forge offered a 2+2 scholarship ensuring that all four years of my college studies would be covered, I knew this was the one. Not to mention the long tradition and prestigious reputation of the school.”
The sixth of six children, Camacho recognizes the value and importance of family. “My mom, Marlene Camacho is my inspiration. She has supported me every step of the way instilling within me discipline, responsibility and above all else, character.”
Reflecting on his time in the JROTC Program and experiences on his battalion’s Color Guard, Marksmanship and Raider Teams, Camacho admits that he has seen how it (JROTC) can bring out the very best in students. Camacho believes that the Program “ignites a trust and honesty system within every Cadet unlike any other sport, club or class can do…it also helps Cadets develop many life skills like time management, organization, and empathy.”
“I’m grateful for the college scholarship offers and the opportunities my Instructors gave me while in JROTC. Their concern in Cadets is real and their belief in each and every one of us is what makes Cadets stay in the Program. I’m proud to be a Shark “Halu’u” and I’m proud to be JROTC!”
