Writer – C.R.Watts First Sergeant (Retired) U.S. Army
Photographer – More than one & Major Erskine and 1SG Watts
There is a National Champion in the Anchorage School District! What did it take for the Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School (BDEAHS) U.S. Army JROTC to achieve the title Division 3-Armed Regulation Champions? It took getting to “next level” competitions. Years of top-three state-level finishes and attendance at the Drill Dynamics mini drill camps, hosted by Eagle River High School Air Force JROTC, contributed significantly to the team’s journey to competing at the High School National Drill Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida, in May 2025. Matt Wendling and his expert team of instructors brought Drill Dynamics expertise with clear and concise technical instruction on competitive drill and how it’s done at the national level.
The experience of participating in the premier drill competition that JROTC has to offer is a testament in and of itself to the Cadets’ resolve, pride, and motivation. In addition to earning the Armed Regulation Division title, the commander, Cadet Andrew Watts, was the runner-up in the Armed Regulation Commanders’ Judges’ Choice Award. The Color Guard, commanded by Mark Chester Cabutotan, also took Runner-Up in their first-ever performance at the Nationals in Daytona. No team from the BDEAHS JROTC program has ever attended this event in its program history. The team’s name, Territorial Cadet Guard of Alaska, boldly demonstrates the dedication and discipline needed to perform at these levels.
It took connecting to a team name. Though the school name Bettye Davis exudes leadership and excellence the team’s name, “Territorial Cadet Guard of Alaska”, is the name that BDEAHS petitioned the Alaska Army National Guard for back in 2022 when the drill team first started their attendance at regional championship drill meets conducted in Colorado (Rocky Mountain Western Classic Invitational) and California (Golden Bear West Coast Nationals). The team posted top-three finishes in both of those highly coveted competitions from 2022 to 2024.
The Territorial Cadet Guard Color Guards and the Armed Regulation Teams competed against more than 50 other schools from other states and U.S. Territories like Guam and Saipan that posted multiple teams within those disciplines. The team agreed on the team’s name with enthusiasm and a deep sense of pride, considering the origin of the name. Historically, the name is derived from the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG), formed in 1942, and is tied to today’s U.S. Army Alaska National Guard (AKNG). The AKNG is a significant supporter of all JROTC programs in Alaska, with many of its members volunteering their time to participate in JROTC activities that are conducted during the school year.
Finally, it took financial support from both the Cadets and from some community sponsors. Cadet fundraiser efforts were challenging, and each team member agreed to participate in organized activities designed to generate funding for travel and entertainment for each member. But the Cadre knew that to create an experience and not just a team travel event, support partners were going to be key in this endeavor. The results were an overwhelming success, as organizations ranging from individual to community businesses to military nonprofit organizations generously joined in supporting the Cadets’ efforts in attending this nationally prestigious event. All this, along with higher headquarters support, made attendance at the High School Drill National Championships a complete success.
