This year’s Marine Corps Junior ROTC Ball, reserved for the cadets of Selma High School’s Junior ROTC program, took place on November 10. It took place at the Lopez Hall, located at St. Joseph’s Church in Selma 8 pm to 11pm.
Traditionally the ball begins with the cake-cutting ceremony that takes place every year at the Marine Corp ball. During this ceremony, guests and cadets take their seats and stand on cue, as the Honor Guard and JROTC’s Drill team march out to present the colors. Consequently, the color guard makes way for the cadets who march the cake to the middle of the room where they meet the guest of honor. This year it was John Martin, and the most senior and youngest cadet in the program. An essential part of the ceremony is each of them taking one bite of the cake. A narrator explains throughout the ceremony that the importance of this is to recognize their youngest and their oldest marines, and in SHS’s program’s case, the cadets.
After the ceremony ends, dinner is served and the dance begins.The two people in charge of the MCJROTC program at Selma High, who also had an essential part of putting on the ball, are Senior Marine Instructor, First Sergeant Romero and Junior Marine Instructor, Master Sergeant Cruz. Cadets of the program and people on Selma High’s campus would commonly refer to one of them with the term “Sir” or to both of them with the term “Gentlemen.”
Master Sergeant Cruz was especially impressed with the cadets of the program.
“It’s good to see that the cadets are able to uphold the traditions of real Marines by demonstrating and upholding a ceremony that actual Marines do all over the world,” he stated.
Many cadets seemed to hold similar opinions, deciding that the ball was a learning experience to be more involved in the ball and mimic the traditions of real Marines.
“My hopes for this year’s ball was that it was going to be, once again, a learning experience and lots of fun,” said Cadet Corporal Gallardo.
This year would make Cadet Corporal Gallardo’s second year in the program. She was a part of the ball ceremony as a member of the Honor Guard. Although it was something she had not done before, the desire to be more involved in the program really moved her.
“What really motivated me to do honor guard at the ball this year was that I got to be more involved with the program, and although I was scared that I was going to mess up, it was fun in the end,” Cadet Corporal Gallardo said.
Cadet Lance Corporal Weeks also leaves us on a similar note.
“I like the feeling [from being] chosen, and the confidence that comes from the fact I know how to do my job,” Cadet Lance Corporal Weeks stated.
A handful of cadets also expressed their liking for the dance portion of the ball.
“The dance was very lively, eventful, and interesting!” said Cadet Second Lieutenant Torres. Cadet Second Lieutenant Torres is the second most senior cadet in the program. She has been in the program for three years.
“My favorite part of the ball was dancing with my friends!” commented Cadet Corporal Valintino Valle. Valle has been in the program for two years and participated in the honor guard for this year’s ceremony.
“The dance was the best part of the ball,” stated Jayden Garcia. “It’s the part that everyone anticipates and what everyone looks forward to after the traditional ceremony.” Cadet Corporal Garcia was also a member of the honor guard in this year’s ceremony and expressed how much he enjoyed the diversity in the ball’s music.
At the end of the day, many cadets decided the food was one of the most unforgettable things about the ball.
“I didn’t throw the cake, but most cadets were eating it up,” said Cadet Lance Corporal Weeks.
The food served at the ball consisted of steak, chicken, rice pilaf, vegetables, bread, and butter.
“The food was definitely the best part. It was really good,” commented Cadet Private Celaya.
It is his first year in the program and so far, he implied he was enjoying it. This was his first time attending the Marine Corps Ball.
When asked what her favorite thing about the ball was, Cadet Gunnery Sergeant Domiguez replied very simply, “The food.” It is Cadet Gunnery Sergeant Dominguez’s fourth year in the program and she is in one of the top four leadership positions in the program.
At the end of the day the MCJROTC Cadet Ball was an exclusive event for the cadets of SHS’s program. No matter what their favorite part was, every cadet that attended agreed that it was an unforgettable experience.
