Tafuna High School JROTC put American Samoa JROTC units on the map the second time.
This time Tafuna’s Leadership Education Training (LET) 2-4, sophomores, juniors and seniors took first place over all in SY 15-16 8th Brigade Academic Challenge on-line competition.
The team members are Neon Osa, Denira Si’imalevai, Vai Tokomaata, and Otolose Tafofi.
The Tafuna team, first year JROTC cadets, mostly freshmen, took second place and those members include Sipili Vini, Meri-Lei Gustafson, Michael Auva’a, and Jireh Misi.
The significance of this award is that Tafuna High School competed and placed first and second among the top JROTC programs in American Samoa and the 8th Brigade.
American Samoa competed against Washington, Arkansas, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, California, Nevada, Hawai’i, Guam, , Korea and Japan.
The results of the competition:
Leadership Education Training 2-4.
1st Tafuna High School, American Samoa
2 Skyline High School, Oakland, California
3rd Punahou High School, Honolulu Hawaii
The leadership Education 1 results were :
- Oak Hills High School, California
- Tafuna High School, American Samoa
- Lowell High School, San Francisco, California
When asked why her teams have been successful, Cadet Neon Osa said “Practice, Practice, Practice.”
She said these cadets are successful because they have sacrificed their lunch hours for over two months practicing. They practiced after school three days a week to include Saturdays.
Sergeant Major Samana Ve’ave’a the Senior Army Instructor for the Tafuna High School thanks these cadets for representing American Samoa JROTC so well and earning these accolades.
He said, “Congratulations for a job well done.”
Tafuna High School JROTC Academic and Leadership Teams are now aiming to the National Competition.
The two teams from Tafuna High School were the only teams from American Samoa that made it through the first round of the National Competition.
If they make it through the second round in February, then they will be heading to Washington D.C. for that final competition.
