Tied By Teamwork

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  Wai'anae, Hawai'i
  In Wai’anae High School students are able to choose the classes they are interested in and want to learn more about. For senior Briahna Rivera, the choice was always a simple one and in 9th grade she chose the path of JROTC. “I wanted to learn leadership skills and to learn things at a high level,” said Rivera.
  
  For Briahna, her goal of learning the ropes of a leader paid off in her senior year when she became Battalion Commander for all of Waianae High School cadets.
  
  “Based on my leadership skills and things I did, they looked at my test scores and I had high test scores and that’s how I got my position,” explained Rivera.
  
  With a top position, comes hard work and for Briahna that’s what she went through for JROTC’s biggest event in the state. The Waianae Adventure Challenge (WAC) is hosted by Waianae High School’s very own ROTC program and is a three day challenge with over 80 teams from schools all over the island. Cadets compete in challenges such as water crossing, swimming, physical tests, rope bridging and other physical events. This year marks the 9th challenge and battalion commander Briahna, plays a big part in her school’s participation. During WAC, Rivera’s job is to make sure all cadets are in right order. Sometimes ordering around cadets is a hassle, since there are so many teams to look over.
  
  “My struggle is just making sure that everyone ends up in the right place,” said Briahna.
  
  From water crossing to rope bridges to various obstacle courses, certain Wai’anae High School cadets figure out the key to success and getting the job done.
  
  “You can’t do everything by yourself, you can’t let others rely on you, you have to work together to get everything done,” said senior Alavoni Tukunaga.
  
  At the closing ceremonies, Wai’anae high school went home with three trophies. Boys took home first for rope bridge, girls took home for tug of war and mixed took home second for tug of war. Even though one of the trophies wasn’t the Golden Eagle, which went to Kapolei who was the best overall team performance. At the end, Briahna has learned a lot about herself and what she can bring back home.
  
  “From WAC I gained more leadership skills, you are in charge of 400 cadets,” stated Rivera. For Briahna wherever her life ends up is not something she is afraid of. Stepping into the field of presenting yourself in the outside world is what she is used to. WAC is not only a challenge of personal strength, but also mental endurance and how far you can motivate your team and yourself.
  
  "Motivation during WAC is like a key to everyone, if you don’t have motivation you won’t get your events done,” Tukunaga states.
  
  Briahna's next obstacle is to succeed at the obstacles that college has to offer her.

"Motivation during WAC is like a key to everyone,"

said Alavoni Tukunaga.

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LOOKING BACK

Write Tools

With everyone being so energetic and respectful and open, I was inspired. Those JROTC cadets are true leaders.


Abreen Padeken, Photographer

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I was amazed at how the cadets were pushed to their abilities.  From physical labor to mental labor of not giving up, I truly respect what the JROTC program does in general.

Delilah Rountree, Reporter

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