Coast Guard JROTC
School Year 2025-26 Quarter 1 Newsletter - October 2025
In only its second year, the Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (CGJROTC) / Maritime Science Program at Barnstable High School is flourishing with 33 students/cadets, a second instructor (CWO Gordon Hart, Ret.), and three Maritime Science (MS) course levels. This year, an impressive mix of grades 9-12 are enrolled in MS-1, MS-2, and MS-3 courses. With the mission of "Developing service-minded citizens of character", the CGJROTC program continues to focus on teaching leadership, followership, citizenship, and the Coast Guard’s core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty, with students/cadets also participating physical fitness, military drills, color guard, leadership opportunities, community service, and more.
[Pictured above is the first-ever combined BHS / CGJROTC Logo]
Coast Guard JROTC Leadership:
Company Commander - Sophia Murphy........................Company Chief - Josh Ferguson
Executive Officer - Anderson Santamaria......................Squad Leader (MS-3) - Britnay Martinez
Operations Officer - Angelique Rodriguez......................Squad Leader (MS-2) - Dayvon Allen
Supply Officer - Pedro Dos Santos..................................Squad Leader (MS-1) - Randy Siguencia
Public Affairs Officer - Glarah Auguste.......................Asst. Squad Leader (MS-1) - Shubham GC
Athletic Officer - Marcus Aguilar.....................................Color Guard Leader - Maria Astudillo
Community Service Officer - Theresa Wait
From the start, there has been great interest and participation in our Color Guard. Only four days into the school year and with about three hours of practice, Barnstable High School’s Coast Guard JROTC Color Guard presented colors at the varsity high school football game on Friday, September 5, 2025. The 5-member color guard team was comprised of two cadets from last year and three new cadets. In this first quarter of the school year, our Color Guard comprised of ten cadets presented colors at 18 sports events, including varsity football, soccer, field hockey, girls volleyball, and unified basketball, as well as three Barnstable Youth Football games. Great job Color Guard!
Guest Speakers
Throughout the quarter, we were fortunate to have four guest speakers in our classes. On October 3rd and less than two weeks from completing Coast Guard Boot Camp, Christopher Macomber (BHS Class of 2025, former Coast Guard JROTC cadet, and now Seaman in the Coast Guard) spoke with everyone about what led him to joining the Coast Guard, how he prepared for and "survived" boot camp, and his future as a Machinery Technician. We were also very fortunate to have two Operations Specialists (OS) from Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England as co-guest speakers (OS2 Pease OS3 Padua) on October 20th to talk about their backgrounds, Coast Guard careers and educational benefits, and futures. Then on November 3rd, Marine Science Technician (MST) Second Class Chelsie Sandoval from Coast Guard Recruiting Office in Providence, RI, was with us to talk about Coast Guard opportunities, as well as her background and various Coast Guard assignments. She also brought "Planks for T-shirts" to the classroom. Huge thanks to all our guest speakers!
Our first field trip occurred on October 23rd in Woods Hole, Massachusetts where we visited Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England, Station Woods Hole, and Aids to Navigation Team Woods Hole. Cadets had the opportunity to interact with the Sector Commander (Captain Moon) and Department Heads, including presentation of a “Sector 101” brief. Captain Moon also recognized three cadets with her command coin for their efforts and hard work (Maria Astudillo, Angelique Rodriguez, and Anderson Santamaria). Everyone then toured the Sector Command Center, Station Woods Hole, including 45ft and 29ft response boats, and Aids to Navigation Team Woods Hole, including 49ft BUSL boat. They also observed a drone demonstration and had the opportunity to shoot off pyrotechnics / emergency flares. The high school Principal was even able to join us for a bit.
* Special thanks to the Cobb Grant for funding the bus transportation for this awesome field trip and learning experience.
Our Academic Team is preparing for the annual USAA JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl, with virtual test competitions scheduled in November through February. Over 1,200 high school JROTC programs from across the world participate in the Academic Bowl.
Archery... In connection with the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP), we will be establishing a Coast Guard JROTC Archery Program in the coming months. Once CGJROTC Instructors receive archery instructor training on December 3rd, they will initiate the archery program.
Plans are in the works to implement a JROTC Raiders Team (physical fitness, first aid, knots, orienteering, obstacle course) for team building and competition with nearby high school JROTCs.
Leadership Academies (Summer 2026). Currently, there are three leadership academy opportunities for Coast Guard JROTC cadets to apply for and potentially attend:
- Coast Guard JROTC Junior Leadership Academy, June 15-19, 2026 in Yorktown, VA
- National Flight Academy, June 29-July3, 2026 in Pensacola, FL
- Coast Guard Academy Introduction Mission, various dates to be announced, New London, CT
Applications for all are usually due by mid-March. Each has associated costs.
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 able to enroll in the MS-1 course. Be sure to check out the 2026-27 BHS Program of Studies when it is released.
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 and students.
Come check us out at the 4th Annual Barnstable High School Showcase on Thursday, January 29, 2026 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. Students and families are invited to a fun, engaging, and interactive evening to celebrate all that our high school has to offer.