Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — This school year, Tafuna High School JROTC Cadets and Instructors paved the road to excellence in the American Samoa Multiple Unit (ASMU) JROTC programs. On April 25, 2019, Tafuna JROTC Task Force, for the second time, set the highest overall JROTC Program Accreditation (JPA) score of a 98.9 in American Samoa. In 2016, Task Force Warriors overall JPA score was 99.1, which still remains the highest score in the United States, and U.S. territories, including Japan and Europe. The Tafuna High School JROTC did an excellent job this year.

The success of this year’s accreditation was a joint effort of the entire Task Force. All 232 cadets answered general knowledge questions in their ASU uniforms during In-Ranks inspection and scored a perfect 100.

The Continuous Improvement Program (CIP) briefing team led by team leader: TF Commander C/COL Marynita Vaigatolo, TF XO C/LTC Geraldine Ofisa, TF S-3 C/MAJ Tualani Yandall, and TF S-2 C/MAJ Missionare Ulutu, scored a 99.1.

While our Service Learning Program (SLP) briefing team led by team leader C/MAJ Jada Fepulea’I, C/MAJ Marianne Tausaga, C/MAJ Siniva Aneterosa, and C/1LT Ronandi Voseci attained a perfect score of 100 with their informative and organized briefing.

The purpose of JPA accreditation is to evaluate JROTC programs in Secondary Educational Institutions and JROTC instructors, as defined by public laws, contracts, Army Regulations, and USACC policies to ensure compliance with minimum program criteria.

High School JROTC programs and instructors receive a JPA visit every three years and are evaluated in the following criteria: Staff Battalion Continuous Improvement Program Briefing; Cadet Portfolio and interviews; Unit Report; In-Ranks; Color Guards; Cadet Drills; Cadet Staff interviews; JROTC Program for Accreditation School Visit Point Summary; and the JROTC Program for Accreditation Report.

Tafuna High School JROTC instructor, SFC Solaita commented, “I am very proud of my cadets, and my Task Force Staff leaders for stepping up to the challenge. This year we experienced and overcame a lot of adversities and challenges. But we preserved and managed to overcome many difficult and trying obstacles. And we did this as a team. At the end we gave it our best. We learned and realized that anything is possible if we stand together, support each other and believe in each other. Thank you to all of you for your dedication, commitment and patience.

“A special thank you to my seniors who will be soon embark on a new journey. I appreciate the headaches, good memories, friendship, and leadership you displayed every day in JROTC. God bless and good luck to all of you on the next chapter of your lives,” he said.

SFC Solaita has been with the JROTC for 16 years and this is his last inspection as he will be retiring in December of 2019. He has always been a strong advocate and supporter of how the program can help students prepare for life after high school by teaching them life lessons and giving them tools to help them grow.

Master Sergeant Puletasi Acania will continue to move the program forward. In the short time he has been here, he has managed to capture the gist of why the Tafuna High School JROTC program has managed to remain on top during inspections and competitions throughout the years.

“Whether it was academics, drills, cadet challenge, and so forth. Its commitment, patience and trust. Trust in yourself as an instructor and in your cadets.”