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U.S. Marine Corps retired Sgt. Maj. Brent Cook, Marine Reserve Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor, inspects James Johnson, Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Marine Corps JROTC cadet, during an open ranks inspection on Sept. 24, at the U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa Training Support Center, Okinawa, Japan. DoWEA Marine Corps and Air Force JROTC cadets and DoWEA Pacific Teachers of the Year from across the Pacific districts tested their skills on a virtual firing range, navigated a combat obstacle course and learned life saving skills during casualty care training.
(Photo Credit: Natalie Stanley)View original2 / 8
A Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from Okinawa stands ready to complete a combat obstacle course on Sept. 24, at the U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa Training Support Center, Okinawa, Japan. DoWEA Marine Corps and Air Force JROTC cadets and DoWEA Pacific Teachers of the Year from across the Pacific districts tested their skills on a virtual firing range, navigated a combat obstacle course and learned life saving skills during casualty care training.
(Photo Credit: Natalie Stanley)View original3 / 8
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Anthony Thompson, executive officer 10th Support Group, speaks with Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Pacific Teachers of the Year from across the Pacific on Sept. 24, at the U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa Training Support Center, Okinawa, Japan. DoWEA Marine Corps and Air Force JROTC cadets and DoWEA Pacific Teachers of the Year from across the Pacific districts tested their skills on a virtual firing range, navigated a combat obstacle course and learned life saving skills during casualty care training.
(Photo Credit: Natalie Stanley)View original4 / 8
Dr. Samy Fineman, video production teacher at Kadena Middle School and Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Pacific South Teacher of the Year 2027, low crawls through a combat obstacle course on Sept. 24, at the U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa Training Support Center, Okinawa, Japan. DoWEA Marine Corps and Air Force JROTC cadets and DoWEA Pacific Teachers of the Year from across the Pacific districts tested their skills on a virtual firing range, navigated a combat obstacle course and learned life saving skills during casualty care training.
(Photo Credit: Natalie Stanley)View original5 / 8
U.S. Marine Corps retired Sgt. Maj. Brent Cook, Marine Reserve Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor, teaches a Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Pacific Teacher of the Year, on firing techniques on Sept. 24, at the U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa Training Support Center, Okinawa, Japan. DoWEA Marine Corps and Air Force JROTC cadets and DoWEA Pacific Teachers of the Year from across the Pacific districts tested their skills on a virtual firing range, navigated a combat obstacle course and learned life saving skills during casualty care training.
(Photo Credit: Natalie Stanley)View original6 / 8
Two Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Pacific Teachers of the Year drag a training manikin on Sept. 24, at the U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa Training Support Center, Okinawa, Japan. DoWEA Marine Corps and Air Force JROTC cadets and DoWEA Pacific Teachers of the Year from across the Pacific districts tested their skills on a virtual firing range, navigated a combat obstacle course and learned life saving skills during casualty care training.
(Photo Credit: Natalie Stanley)View original7 / 8
U.S. Army Spc. Joseph Bishop, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, teaches Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Marine Corps JROTC cadets, casualty care on Sept. 24, at the U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa Training Support Center, Okinawa, Japan. DoWEA Marine Corps and Air Force JROTC cadets and DoWEA Pacific Teachers of the Year from across the Pacific districts tested their skills on a virtual firing range, navigated a combat obstacle course and learned life saving skills during casualty care training.
(Photo Credit: Natalie Stanley)View original8 / 8
U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa Training Support Center staff, Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets, DoWEA Pacific Teachers of the Year and other participants pose for a photo in front of the Training Support Center on Sept. 24, at Torii Station, Okinawa, Japan. DoWEA Marine Corps and Air Force JROTC cadets and DoWEA Pacific Teachers of the Year from across the Pacific districts tested their skills on a virtual firing range, navigated a combat obstacle course and learned life saving skills during casualty care training.
(Photo Credit: Natalie Stanley)View original
TORII STATION, Japan – U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa Training Support Center welcomed JROTC cadets and Pacific Teachers of the Year for hands-on training Sept. 24 and 25 at Torii Station, Japan.
The two-day event brought together Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Marine Corps and Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets and DoWEA 2027 Pacific Teachers of the Year.
Teachers and cadets learned weapons fundamentals on a virtual firing range, navigated a combat obstacle course and practiced lifesaving skills during casualty care training.
For the Pacific Teachers of the Year, the day offered a chance to train alongside the cadets and get a closer look at resources available to the military community they serve.
Michelle Morales, DoWEA Pacific East District 2027 Teacher of the Year, Yokosuka Middle School, took on the obstacle course and other training during the visit.
“When you sign up to be a teacher, I don’t think everyone’s ultimate goal is to be Teacher of the Year,” she said. “You want to make an impact in your students’ lives, and sometimes it’s in the classroom, sometimes it’s outside the classroom.”
While the event gave participants an opportunity to experience military training, its impact extended beyond the skills they practiced, giving cadets a chance to build confidence, leadership and teamwork outside the classroom.
“Our program gives students an opportunity to grow, mature and develop as leaders,” said U.S. Marine Corps retired Sgt. Maj. Brent Cook, Marine Corps JROTC instructor at Kubasaki High School and 2026 Teacher of the Year. “You watch them go from being quiet to becoming confident.”
Those lessons can extend beyond JROTC. James Johnson, a Kubasaki senior and third-year cadet who hopes to commission as a Marine Corps officer, said one of the most important lessons he has learned applies regardless of the path he takes.
“I think what I’ve learned in JROTC is to have empathy,” Johnson said. “A lot of people are going to go through stuff you don’t know about. Just be empathetic."
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