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JAMES MONROE High School ARMY JROTC
Viking Battalion Newsletter
9229 Haskell Avenue , North Hills , CA 91343
(818)830-4309

March 2009
Issue 6

Inside this issue:

BUSC Ceremony	1
News From the Top	2
La Esquina Del Sargento Magdaleno / / Rose Bowl Performance	3
Upcoming events /Announcements	4
The American Legion Award Dinner / and The B.U.S.C Dinner	5
Birthdays	6

Since 1945, the British United Services Club Challenge Trophy has been proudly presented to the winning school of the annual Los Angeles Unified School District JROTC Drill competition. The British United Services Club Ceremony was held on March 12th, 2009 at the football field of James Monroe High School. All eighteen Army JROTC schools Color Guards were present for the Ceremony.
The All-City Colonel and her Staff commanded the ceremony along with LTC Ted McDonald our district Director of Army Instruction (DAI) as the narrator. The guest speaker for the day was Captain Stuart R. Bird-Wilson. He gave his words of wisdom and encouragement to our cadets and student body. Following the guest speaker, the B.U.S.C. members presented streamers to the guidons and plaques to the top three schools, Monroe First Place, Manual Arts Second Place and Verdugo Hills Third Place. The BUSC members also awarded All-City First Place medals and ribbons to the 44 cadets from Monroe H.S.
Moments later, our Battalion Commander, C/LTC Maria Izarraras presented the BUSC shield of excellence (plaque) to our principal Mr. Francisco Ayala. The Battalion Commander then gave a speech thanking the cadets, The BUSC members, faculty, and those who attended the ceremony. Afterwards, Mr. Ayala and 1SG Mujica our Senior Army Instructor said a few words to congratulate the cadets for winning the All-City 1st place Best Company competition for the thirteen year in a row!!!
The ceremony was concluded with the Pass and Review by all the JROTC Schools present. The Pass and Review honors unit achievements and commemorates events.
Overall the ceremony was excellent and the cadets were greatly honored with the medals and ribbons they received .
We would like to give special Thanks to the Monroe H.S Band under the direction of Mr. Franklin Gomez for playing the American National Anthem and special bugle calls.
Also special Thanks go for Ms. Carolyn Morgan who sung the British National Anthem
The Viking Battalion wishes to thank The BUSC for their continued support to JROTC and the Monroe faculty for always supporting our cadets.
By: Letisia Ahumada

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During the month of March, 2009 our Viking Battalion had many activities and events throughout the month. Our unit started out with the British United Service Club Military Pass and Review of the Army's JROTC units in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The British United Service Club has supported the JROTC units in the Los Angeles Unified School District for 65 years. Our battalion was recognized as being the All-City Champions in the Challenge Trophy Competition, which was held at James Monroe on the 13th of December, 2008. On the 12th of March, 2009 our All-City Best Company was honored on our campus football field in front of over 400 students from various classes, Ms. Jan Davis, Los Angeles Unified School District - Director, LAUSD High School Programs, Mr. Robert B. Edmonds, MBE, B.U.S.C. President, Reviewing Officer: Captain Stuart Bird-Wilson TD, RHKR, Ms. Carolyn Morgan, Soloist, one of Monroe's own teachers, Mr. Franklin Gomez, Monroe's Band Director, with our talented band and Mr. Francisco Ayala, Principal of James Monroe. This was the Viking Battalion's 13th consecutive year winning the toughest competition in the JROTC program. I would like to thank SFC Magdaleno, Lorraine, Claudia, and Veronica Alberto, Cynthia Vargas-Castaneda, and our Viking Battalion Commander C/LTC Maria Izarraras for doing an outstanding job in preparing our cadets to compete at this level. A special thanks goes out to all the staff at James Monroe for making our presentation a special day, without the help from everyone at our school our unit could not put on such a good ceremony. All 18 JROTC high schools were present and the units were commanded by the All-City Colonel Jessica Lamb, from Verdugo Hills high school. Congratulations to Manual Arts and Verdugo high schools for finishing in 2nd and 3rd place respectfully.
On the 15th of March, our Vikings' Color Guard presented the Colors at the Jewish War Veterans 62nd Annual Installation of Officers Luncheon. My wife, Trini, and I picked up our Color Guard team at Monroe and headed out to this special ceremony. It's not every day that a person gets a chance to meet history. I mean, at our table there was a lady who was in a German Concentration Camp during World War II. What an amazing person to meet and to talk with! Most people read about history, what an opportunity to talk with "living history." I would like to thank Ms. Violla Orloff, PPC for inviting our battalion to participate in this event.
The next night our Viking Battalion along with Manual Arts high school was honored at the Hollywood Post 43, American Legion. This American Legion is the World's Largest Veterans Organization and Hollywood Post 43 was chartered in 1919. Major Gibson, from the Los Angeles Unified School District - JROTC Headquarters helped establish these awards honoring the winners at the LAUSD-JROTC All-City Competitions. This past December, our battalion had 3 First Place teams. Our school was presented 3 Perpetual Plaques at the Post along with Manual Arts 2 teams. Our school was honored for having the 1st Place teams in: Company, Armed and Unarmed Drill Teams. Manual Arts was honored for having the 1st Place teams in: Platoon and Squad Drill. The cadets who accompanied me were: C/LTC Izarraras, Battalion Commander, C/CPT Alberto, Unarmed Drill Team Commander, C/CSM Orellana, Armed Drill Team Commander and C/MAJ Vargas-Castaneda, the All-City Training and Operation Officer. The cadets had another chance to meet "living history." The cadets and I meet and spoke with several members of Post 43 and listened to their stories.
On the 20th of March, 2009 our Viking Battalion was once again honored by the British United Service Club at the Junior ROTC Awards Night Formal Dinner. This dinner is to honor the winning All-City Best Company Junior ROTC high school. Other schools in attendance were Manual Arts (2nd Place) and Verdugo Hills (3rd Place). SFC Magdaleno and I took the following cadets to the dinner: C/LTC Izarraras, Battalion Commander, C/CPT Lorraine Alberto, C/CSM Jeremi Orellana, and C/MAJ Cynthia Vargas-Castaneda, All-City Training and Operation Officer. Ms. Morgan and Mr. Ayala were also in attendance. I would like to thank the British United Service Club for their commitment to our youth, Ms. Morgan and Mr. Ayala for their continued support of our program.
The following week, 17 our cadets headed out to Camp San Luis Obispo Junior ROTC Leadership Camp, the cadets looked forward to this event all year. Only a handful of cadets can attend and the dates were from the 26th of March to the 30th of March 2009. Our school took 9 girls and 8 boys to camp. The camp was attended by 3 of our seniors: C/CPT Jose Navarro, C/CPT Irene Olivares, and our All-City C/MAJ Cynthia Vargas-Castaneda. This was there last trip as leaders in the Viking Battalion and they will be missed when they graduate. I hope everyone had a good time and had a good experience repelling down from the mountain!
In the upcoming month, our battalion has several events scheduled, so get busy and get involved. I look forward to seeing as many cadets as possible at our Annual Walk-a-Thon on the 18th of April. Get ready to put some miles on those P.E. shoes! Do not forget to sign up for the television show "America Got Talent." This is a fundraiser, but also a chance to hang with your fellow cadets and have some fun watching all kinds of talent. My wife, SFC Magdaleno and his wife will meet with all the cadets at the battalion on the 8th of April, 2009 at 10:30. Remember, we only have 55 seats, and this day is a non-school day, so get your permission slips in early.

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Hola Vikingos,
Estamos muy agradecidos con los miembros de la organisacion BUSC. Por mas de 60 años, ellos siguen apoyando a nuestro programa de JROTC en la competencia annual de marchar para seleccionar la mejor escuela de nuestro distrito. Asi que aqui les mando cuernos de ORO para los cadetes que le pusieron muchas ganas, fortalesa,y dedicacion para ganar por el decimotercero año consecutivo. ARRIVA VIKINGOS!!!!
No se les olvide que tenemos que venir el 18 de Abril para la gran caminada del WALK-A-THON.
Cuando hay ganas, todo se puede hacer!!! (no se asusten, nomas son 5 millas).
Para los que van a competir en CADET CHALLENGE tambien echenle ganas el 22 de Abril.
El equipo de los vikingos del cerebro grande sigen estudiando para el examen academico en Mayo, y tambien preparense para el PICNIC de JROTC en Griffith Park el 16 de Mayo.

Winning first place for the second time in a row feels great for the James Monroe High School All- City Armed Drill Team. The Monroe Viking Battalion All- City Armed Drill Team was happy and proud to represent our district at the Marine Corps Field Day. The team received a chance to show off their skills at the Rose Bowl on February 28, 2009. The team seemed nervous at first but when the time came for them to perform it was like any other practice they’ve had. They showed why they were number one this year again for Armed Drill Team. They did a great job in their performance. Many of our cadets went to the Rose Bowl to support our All- City Armed Drill Team. So congrats to all the members of the All- City Armed Drill Championship Team. HOOAH! GO VIKINGS!!!

Armed Drill Team members

Elmer Chavez Nayely Saavedra
Daniel Soto Anthony Rodriguez
Jazmin Serrano Gilbert Muños
Erik Morales Eugene Sorongon
Oscar Mendez Juan Gonzales

Jeremi Orellana

BY: Letisia Ahumada/Nirav P.

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BATTALION FORMATION
APRIL 2nd

WALK-A -THON APRIL 18th

NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)
APRIL 6th to APRIL 12th

UNIT FUNDRAISER
TV SHOW
“AMERICA’S GOT TALENT”
APRIL 8th

PROMOTION BOARD
MAY 1st

BATTALION FORMATION
MAY 7th

JROTC FUN DAY @ GRIFFITH PARK MAY 16th

By: Letisia Ahumada

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On March 16, 2009, four of our top cadets;
C/LTC Maria Izarraras,
C/MAJ Cynthia Vargas,
C/CPT Lorraine Alberto, and C/CSM Jeremi Orellana along with First Sergeant Charles Mujica attended the American Legion Post 43 JROTC Dinner. The Dinner was in honor of the winning schools that competed on the Annual All-City Drill Competition in December 13, 2009 in 5 events; Company, Platoon, Squad, Unarmed and Armed Drill Teams. Monroe was being recognized for placing 1st place in 3 of the 5 events; Best Company, Best Armed and Unarmed Drill Teams. This is the 1st year that the American Legion sponsors the All-City Drill Competition. The Dinner began with the performance of a young lady singing classical songs, followed by a regular meeting with the members. After everything was finished our battalion was the first one to ever recieve the plaques. Also, the Viking Battalion would like to thank MAJ Gibson for introducing our school.

About the American Legion:

The American Legion was approved by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, war-time veteran’s organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is a non-profit community service organization which now numbers nearly 3 million members, men and women, in nearly 15,000 American Legion posts worldwide.

By: Letisia Ahumada

On March 20th, 2009 the Viking Battalion cadets along with Manual Arts High School and Verdugo Hills High School JROTC cadets who were representing their battalion, enjoyed the evening with a nice dinner at the Altadena Country Club. The dinner was hosted by the British United Services Club, honoring the top three LAUSD high schools that placed in the JROTC All-City Company Drill competition in December 2008. The Monroe Viking Battalion received the first place BUSC trophy on March 12, 2009.
By: Letisia Ahumada

Members who attended the B.U.S.C Dinner

C/LTC Maria Izarraras
C/MAJ Cynthia Vargas
C/CPT Lorraine Alberto
C/SGM Jeremi Orellana
1SG Charles Mujica
SFC Ricardo Magdaleno

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We are in the web at
vikingjrotcbattalion.synthasite.com

Sagastume, Ashley 04/21
Castro, Yoselin 04/22
Proano, Kimberly 04/24
Gomez, Marbella 04/25
Cruz-Lazaro, Liliana 04/26
Espinoza, Stephanie 04/24
Flores, Cindy 04/28

By: Letisia Ahumada

Rojero, Hector 04/01
Ramirez-Ortiz, Erika 04/04
Perez, Luis 04/07
Ahumada, Letisia 04/09
Tolentino, Nancy 04/09
Chavez-Palma, Yoselin 04/10
Lopez, Bernardo 04/12
De Guzman, Nathan 04/18