Writer: C/SGT Cabarles, Juris
Photographer: C/1LT Sofia Del Rosario (Public Affairs Officer)
On August 28, 2024, three cadets from the Tinian JROTC Stallion Battalion, Gus Palacios, Journey Delacruz Reyes, and Kiwalani Cabrera, have recently taken the oath to serve in the United States Air Force.
Swearing-in is a formal ceremony where individuals take an oath of enlistment or office, committing themselves to military service. It’s a moment of reflecting the individual’s dedication to serving their country, upholding its values, and taking on the responsibilities and challenges of military service. This monumental step highlights the impact of the JROTC program in shaping young leaders ready to serve their country.
We asked them how they felt about this new part of their life that they are going to step into, here’s what they stated: “This new chapter that I’m stepping into is going to be a huge landmark for me. I’ll be facing challenges that I’ve never faced before in and out of my workspace. In the end, I’m quite happy with where I’m heading and what I’m doing. I had doubts about my career, but I made it work because I had peers with the same experience educating me about it,” said Gus Palacios.
“It’s very nerve-wracking entering this new chapter because I’m not quite ready to leave it all so soon (my family and home) but I’m just happy to start my career and gain new experiences for myself and meet new people and go to new places. I’ve definitely reflected on how quickly time flies, and often think about how fast my high school career went by. Seeing all my classmates pursue things such as college and the military has been so eye-opening because it makes the fact that I’m all grown up and I’m an adult who now has different responsibilities and obligations to fulfill feel so much more real,” said Journey Delacruz Reyes.
From there, we decided to ask how JROTC influenced them throughout their high school years. Kiwalani Cabrera replied, “JROTC has influenced me a lot. I was in ROTC for three years and in those years I learned so much, from being a cadet to becoming one of the leaders. I believe ROTC really does help you build character and become a better person. When I was a freshman, ROTC helped me get out of my comfort zone, make friends, and do things I wouldn’t do and I ended up making a lot of great memories. I’m extremely grateful for it.”
Gus Palacios continued by saying, “JROTC influenced me in many ways. It taught me to take risks and to never be scared of the outcome because you never know what good it can do to you. Another thing that JROTC taught me was to get out of your comfort zone because if you aren’t, then are you really living to the fullest? I’m grateful that I participated in many JROTC events and activities and I also encourage others to not see it as a negative experience but a learning one.”
Lastly, Journey Delacruz Reyes said, “Although I only completed one year of JROTC, I really enjoyed the experiences and lessons I learned. The instructors shared very impactful stories and lessons that made my desire to join the military after high school even stronger. Seeing the kind of respect and honor that the instructors embodied inspired me to seek that for myself. I had a lot of fun in JROTC and it helped me branch out socially and mentally, as well as challenged and motivated me to become better and step out of my comfort zone. I genuinely regret not going back in for my last two years of high school.”
Each of these cadets has shown exceptional dedication and commitment throughout their time in JROTC, and their decision to join the Air Force is a testament to the program’s ability to inspire and prepare young individuals for a life of service. As they embark on this new journey, we wish Gus Palacios, Journey Delacruz Reyes, and Kiwalani Cabrera the best of luck in their future endeavors and thank them for their dedication to serving our nation!