Coast Guard JROTC

As our Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (CGJROTC) / Maritime Science Program at Barnstable High School (BHS) continues to flourish, quarter 3 picked up right where quarter 2 finished... Super busy and involved in a variety of events, ceremonies, celebrations, and classwork. Color guard performed at various events, academic team competed again, heard from guest speakers, participated in community service, an archery challenge, field trip, and a 106th birthday celebration, and conducted our annual awards ceremony and annual unit inspection, all while continuing to learn about leadership, followership, maritime environment, history and opportunities, teamwork, service to others, and more.

Please read on to learn about all of the great happenings.

It was an honor to participate in the 106th birthday celebration of Navy veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor Mr. Freeman Johnson. Held at the Barnstable Adult Community Center on 18 March, CGJROTC Color Guard marched in and helped kick off the celebration by presenting colors while the National Anthem was sung. Eighteen CGJROTC cadets along with the Cape & Islands Veterans Outreach Center, Barnstable first responders, U.S. Navy, veterans, elected officials, BHS military club, community members, friends, and family all joined in singing happy birthday to Mr. Johnson.

CGJROTC Color Guard conducted colors at more hockey games, including girls varsity hockey for the first time, boys varsity hockey seniors recognition night, girls and boys varsity basketball senior recognition nights, CGJROTC annual awards ceremony and annual unit inspection. The Color Guard has presented colors at over 40 various events so far this school year.

Requested by the Cape & Islands Veterans Outreach Center (CIVOC), a sizeable CGJROTC Color Guard presented colors at a National Vietnam War Veterans Day event in downtown Hyannis on March 29th.

Over the winter there were a few community service events that students and instructors took the time to participate in, including a Keep Barnstable Beautiful sponsored town cleanup in Hyannis amidst snow flurries on March 28th. Much nicer weather prevailed at an April 11th Barnstable Natural Resources beach cleanup at Ropes Beach in Cotuit.

Four students and the Senior Maritime Science Instructor (SMSI) participated and represented our CGJROTC / Maritime Science program during the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) visit to Barnstable High School during the week of April 13th. Students participated in discussion panels and presentations of course work to NEASC members, while the SMSI presented program information. [no pictures provided]

Our series of guest speakers continued this quarter with two different military services guest speakers. Big thank you to Staff Sergeant Devon Niedo, U.S. Marine Corps and 2nd Lieutenant Adam Cusolito, U.S. Air Force. Both provided great information about their respective services as well as their own backgrounds, choices, challenges, and successes.

After archery introduction and initial training in January, BHS CGJROTC competed in a three-school virtual archery competition in March with two other CGJROTC high schools (Mission Bay in San Diego, CA and Camden County in Camden, NC). Archers shot 5 arrows for practice and 15 arrows for score (5 arrows per round; maximum score of 150) 10 yards from the target followed by 5 arrows for practice and 15 arrows for score (5 arrows per round; maximum score of 150) 15 yards from the target. Total possible score per archer was 300. Each schools top four archer's scores were used for competition scoring. Although we finished in third place with this being only our second time on the archery range, everyone did well and improved from their first time. Our top four archers and their scores: Pedro Dos Santos (232), Marcus Aguilar (222), Josh Ferguson (210), and Anna Manhaes (201). Great job by everyone who stepped up and competed!

On March 19, we held our second annual awards ceremony celebrating the accomplishments of our cadets over the first six months of the school year. Families, friends, school and district staff (including Principal and Superintendent), local Coast Guard leaders, school committee members, and other community leaders and officials attended. A total of 66 awards across 10 different award categories were presented recognizing individual and team achievements. Awards included unit service, community service, color guard team, academics, academic team, participation, exemplary personal appearance, physical fitness, achievement, and more. Cadets wear the presented ribbons or medals on their uniform. Special thanks to our three National Anthem singers, students from BHS Performing Arts.

[Thank you to BHS B2BTV for recording this event.]

A Saturday field trip on March 14th to Northeast Maritime Institute (NMI) in Fairhaven, MA was enjoyed by many as well as with Camden County High School CGJROTC from North Carolina. The field trip included program introductions and experiences by the school president and staff, a walking tour of the school's unique and historic dispersed buildings that make up the campus, operating a tug boat and a large vessel in the ship's bridge simulators, donning survival suits, and more. It was also great to spend time and have lunch with cadets and instructors from one of our other CGJROTC high schools.

The Annual Unit Inspection (AUI) occurred on April 1st (No fool'in). For cadets, the CGJROTC AUI consists of a personnel inspection (uniform and personal appearance), 28-step unarmed drill (marching), 16-step armed drill (drill rifle movements), and color guard drill. Although personnel from Coast Guard Headquarters were unable to attend this year, the personnel inspection and drill observances were readily conducted by the SMSI (CAPT Schultz) and MSI (CWO Hart). It was great to see the cadet's hard work in the months leading up to the AUI pay off, while also learning valuable lessons about timely preparation and attention to detail. Once the AUI was completed, there was plenty of time for some archery fun and scoring games.

Special thanks to BHS B2BTV for video recording and pictures. Check out the short video clip at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Iwf4LROfDQ

State Representative Kip Diggs (BHS Class of 1985) stopped by the classroom to speak with us on April 13th. His message about overcoming life's challenges, choices, and opportunities was heartfelt and inspiring. He also presented congratulatory achievement certificates from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to our Company Commander, Operations Officer, and Color Guard Leader.

Thanks to the Enoch Cobb Grant Fund and the hard work by the BHS Hawks Nest school spirit store through the use of their new embroidery machine, school colors quarter-zips and hoodies with an embroidered CGJROTC / BHS logo were provided to our students at no cost. Students could choose either the quarter-zip or hoodie to proudly wear anytime and anywhere, helping promote the CGJROTC / Maritime Science program.

Field trip to Massachusetts Maritime Academy on April 30.

Seniors: Final exams May 21-28; Awards assembly June 2; Graduation June 6.

Juniors Awards assembly June 9.

Summer 2026 in-school programming: BHS CGJROTC intends to have several archery sessions, program familiarization and uniform distribution in August (specific dates & times to be determined).

The CGJROTC / Maritime Science Program at BHS will continue to grow in school year 2026-27, with a level four Maritime Science (MS-4) course added and 8th graders enrolling in the MS-1 course. See the 2026-27 BHS Program of Studies for more details.

Increasing awareness of this unique program at BHS within the school district as well as across Cape Cod is paramount to the future growth and success of our Coast Guard JROTC / Maritime Science program. Thank you to everyone who continues to provide great support to the program, instructors, and students.