Mission Bay High School is home to a variety of popular, high-quality, rigorous, and award-winning instructional programs that attract students from all over the City to its campus. The IB (International Baccalaureate) program, instrumental and choral music, engineering and robotics, art, and athletics are among the many opportunities making Mission Bay attractive to students and families across the County.

Now another strong program can be added to these successful opportunities available to students. In August of 2023, the United States Coast Guard established and activated the first Coast Guard JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps) on the West Coast. Last October, 11th District Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral Andrew M. Sugimoto inaugurated the program at Mission Bay High.

“The Coast Guard JROTC program will empower our youth to become future leaders with a great foundation,” Sugimoto said. “The goal is to foster a sense of duty, integrity, and respect. We aim to cultivate a new generation of individuals committed to serving their communities and our nation. The Coast Guard JROTC aims to inspire and develop young leaders and instill the values of teamwork, discipline, and service to the community.”

Mission Bay JROTC is on an upward growth curve with increased interest and enrollment.

“We started our program in the fall of 2023 with 31 cadets,” said Lt. Commander John Bannon, USCG (ret.), Mission Bay’s JROTC senior maritime science instructor. “This year we have 58 cadets. Our goal is 100 cadets enrolled by fall of 2026.”

Bannon grew up in La Jolla, served 22 years in the Coast Guard, and retired in 2019. With a master’s degree in education from San Diego State University, Bannon is enjoying his second year at Mission Bay.

Along with Chief Petty Officer Guillermo Melendez (ret.), Bannon organizes and structures the JROTC program and teaches the classes.

“Since the program is in its second year we have first year cadets and second year cadets,” Melendez said. “The fact that the cadets have such an arduous academic day and yet still want to be part of something bigger… every day these cadets challenge themselves to take on more responsibility, volunteer their time, and help each other meet class goals inspires me to want to do more.”

Students at Mission Bay are enrolled in eight classes organized into alternating A-day and B-day schedules. Students will attend four classes on A-day and their remaining four classes on B-day.

The classroom schedule for JROTC is academics on Monday and Tuesday, physical fitness on Wednesday and Thursday, and Fridays are reserved for specialized programming, guest speakers, and community service activities or field trips. Guest speakers in the past have included representatives of law enforcement agencies, SPAWAR, the U.S. Navy, and Space Force.

Maritime Science I and II are taught on Mondays and Tuesdays covering a wide variety of topics such as Coast Guard missions and operations, health, nautical science, orienteering, as well as the history of military marching and drill.

The JROTC physical fitness programming on Wednesdays and Thursdays meets the physical education requirement for the San Diego Unified School District. The class motto is COAST (citizenship, operations, advancement, service, and teamwork).

Students in the program are enrolled as cadets and have an initial rank of seaman recruit. Once cadets work on and complete qualifications cadets can advance to seaman apprentice, then to seaman, and then to petty officer. Beyond that are various leadership positions including commanding officer, color guard commander, and academics officer.

During their JROTC program cadets can earn up to 28 ribbons for meeting various qualifications and achievements ranging from attending leadership training, passing required physical fitness training, as well as participating in JROTC events frequently joining with other high schools.

At the end of the year, cadets are evaluated for leadership and citizenship’s highest honors. Outside medals are awarded by various military organizations such as the Navy League, Army Leadership, VFW, and Coast Guard Chief’s Association to these cadets.

Beaming with pride as he prepared for the Fall Advancement and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 15 Bannon said, “Nothing is given… these awards and ribbons are earned by our outstanding cadets here at Mission Bay High School.”

A common question posed to Bannon is, “If I join Coast Guard JROTC will I have to give up or skip other high school activities or classes?”

“Absolutely not,” he said. “Our JROTC cadets are regular students, in all different types of classes, play sports, music, art, and AP (Advanced Placement) and IB (International Baccalaureate) classes. They have a very rigorous schedule.”

In addition to her JROTC class, 11th-grade student, Madison Walker’s schedule includes Introduction to Psychology, ASB, Integrated Math 3, Marine Science, IB History, and IB English. Last May, Walker earned the rank of lieutenant junior grade at the Change of Command Ceremony. This year, Walker has a top leadership position among the cadets for the 2024-2025 school year.

In addition to his JROTC Coast Guard class, freshman Mauricio Santiago’s schedule includes honors Spanish, biology, art, computer animation, math, English, and AVID. Santiago, whose father is in the Coast Guard, enjoys the feeling of following in his father’s footsteps.

Sophomore MacKayla Peterson was awarded her Basic Leadership Training ribbon during the Oct. 15 Fall Advancement and Awards ceremony and now has the rank of seaman cadet. Peterson credits the JROTC Coast Guard program with keeping her grades up.

“That makes my parents proud and that makes me proud. I have gained more leadership skills and increased confidence. I am not afraid to step out of my comfort zone,” Peterson said.

When asked what skills she brings to the JROTC program, she said: “I bring honesty, commitment, teamwork, accountability, and decisiveness. I love this program.”