Grants Highschool’s MCJROTC Program Promotes Excellence

After Turmoil, the Junior Marine Corps ROTC Program is Ready to Shine Again

  • Corporal Christopher Werito (L), Corporal Brandon Garcia, Gunnery Sergeant Cameron Thompson, Sergeant Cayden Perry all pose for a photo after winning these awards at the State Competition this last school year. As the GHS MCJROTC comes back to full force, these students have high aspirations for the program, wanting to take the team back to the national championships. Diego Lopez - CC
    Corporal Christopher Werito (L), Corporal Brandon Garcia, Gunnery Sergeant Cameron Thompson, Sergeant Cayden Perry all pose for a photo after winning these awards at the State Competition this last school year. As the GHS MCJROTC comes back to full force, these students have high aspirations for the program, wanting to take the team back to the national championships. Diego Lopez - CC
  • Gunnery Sergeant John Hollins has led the Laguna-Acoma MCJROTC Program, and now he is stepping up to fill in the position at Grants High School. With his leadership, and the enthusiastic desire of his students to bring the program back to the top of its power, the team is shaping up for a productive 2022-2023 school year. Courtesy Photo
    Gunnery Sergeant John Hollins has led the Laguna-Acoma MCJROTC Program, and now he is stepping up to fill in the position at Grants High School. With his leadership, and the enthusiastic desire of his students to bring the program back to the top of its power, the team is shaping up for a productive 2022-2023 school year. Courtesy Photo
  • Grants Highschool’s MCJROTC Program Promotes Excellence
    Grants Highschool’s MCJROTC Program Promotes Excellence

GRANTS, N.M. – COVID-19 put a damper on the success of Cibola County. This was especially true of the world-famous Marine Corps JROTC Program at Grants High School in Grants, New Mexico.

The local high school’s Marine Corps JROTC program has a legacy of success, with numerous successes for Cibola County that have put the lightly populated county on the map time and time again. A estimate to the program’s success can be found by entering the trophy room. Wall-to-wall is stacked with trophies earned by Cibola’s youth.

March of 2020 was the beginning of a great decline for the program. COVID-19 impacted every facet of life, including shutting down schools across the country. The program’s former instructor, current Grants City Councilor George Garcia, who achieved the rank of gunnery sergeant in the Marine Corps, said that he believed the 2020 team had the ability to win the state competition with a chance at the national drill competition, if it weren’t for COVID upending those opportunities. With COVID-19, Garcia retired his post and decided to focus on bettering his community through city government.

Without an instructor, the fate of GHS’ awardwinning team was at risk.

During the period where GHS ROTC had no instructor, the program slowly fizzled away. GHS administration began the process of removing MCJROTC equipment from the gym they use, in an effort to convert the gym into a place for the wrestling team. School district staff were unaware of an obligation the school district had with the US Marine Corps, which demanded the project stay in the gym. After a walkthrough of the facility with Gunny Hollins, it was decided that the facility would be returned to the JROTC program, and Hollins shortly after signed on with the GHS team to be their instructor.

Hollins has been working to recruit to new cadets, by reaching out to Grants’ Los Alamitos Middle School, Hollins was able to pull dozens of students to sign up for the program’s 2022-2023 season.

The 2021-2022 school year, with all of its tricks and closures due to COVID-19, still managed to bring accolades to Grants. Corporal Christopher Werito, Corporal Brandon Garcia and Gunnery Sergeant Cameron Thompson all spoke about the year with pride after winning awards at the state competition.

“We did win some trophies this year, but my goal is to get this program back into shape,” JROTC Gunnery Sergeant Thompson said.

One student who spoke highly of the program, and credited it for giving him purpose and a passion for the military. Cayden Perry went from GHS’ ROTC program where he was a sergeant, to the United States Marine Corps. Perry spoke highly of his experience with GHS MCJROTC. He said that the program is what pushed him to graduate, after he struggled for his first few years at the school.

The team won four awards at the Rio Rancho competition before the school year ended. Awards were earned by the cadets in three solo competitions and one drilldown competition. The team competed against 20 other schools. Thompson said, “Teamwork was vital,” in winning the awards.

“You have to have good grades. It requires a lot of hard work and dedication to be successful,” Thompson said. He expects to become the next physical training commander, and plans to drill his cadets to help instill the dedication. “I want us to bring home the national trophy,” Thompson remarked.

“Our physical training fell off thanks to COVID, but now, we’re going to focus on discipline.” Thompson remarked for the next school year.

The GHS MCJROTC team has a history of success and has historically brought pride to Grants. After a lull due to the global pandemic, this team is gearing up for a productive year where they expect to bring trophies back to Grants high School.

Thompson closed, “Don’t quit on your dreams. At the beginning of the school year, it was rough because we were in and out of school. But ROTC can help you accomplish your goals so you can succeed. If you want to be part of something, if you want to be part of an award winning team, join ROTC.”