On Wednesday, Feb. 18, Kalani High School’s JROTC Coast Guard program managers were on site to conduct an annual unit inspection. To maximize participation, instructors scheduled the cadet demonstration portion of the inspection during advisory.
The cadets had been diligently preparing for this event for several weeks prior and were eager to demonstrate their knowledge and skills to the inspection team, Chief Rogers explained in an email to Kalani faculty.
The inspection featured a striking display of teamwork on the school’s athletic field, where a color guard of six cadets marched with rhythmic precision across the new turf. These students bore the U.S. flag, the State of Hawaii flag, and the Coast Guard standard, flanked by two cadets carrying rifles.
“They’ve made amazing progress,” Chief Armstrong states. “We just had their second annual unit inspection, and from being here from the first one, I’ve seen a marked improvement over that first year. So it’s going excellently at the moment.”
Beyond the physical drills and exercises on the track, the program’s heart beats inside Room 19A, tucked into the back of E Building. In the classroom, the atmosphere shifts from military ceremony to focused academics as cadets work individually on laptops to navigate the curriculum. Other students gather near whiteboards covered in organizational notes to discuss upcoming logistics and collaborative projects.
The classroom also serves as a hub for career exploration, as recruiters from various military branches frequently visit to provide students with a comprehensive look at their future options.
“JROTC helps me know more about the Coast Guard and develop skills that would be helpful for the Coast Guard,” cadet Max Ausloos (11) says. “I learned about other branches because they used to bring recruiters from each branch over, so I know everything about everything, and Coast Guard seems like the best.”
Ausloos explains that the program is new and still evolving. He says it’s “cool” to be a part of it.
“I wish there was just more people, a little more structure,” he says.
The program’s timing was perfect for Chief Armstrong, who was nearing the end of his military career.
“The timing worked out,” Chief Armstrong states. “I was about to retire, and the program managers approached me about the program. Since they had kids that were already signed up for it, I agreed to be the instructor that day.”
Looking toward the future, the leadership at Kalani High School is focused on expansion and increased resources.
“I’d like to expand,” he says. “I’d like to increase our ranks, get more support, more funding, open more programs, and ultimately have more to offer for, you know, future prospects that want to join the program.”
