Hometown JROTC cadets take DODEA Pacific East marksmanship contest in Japan

A JROTC cadet from Matthew C. Perry High School sets his sights before firing from the standing position during the Pacific East Regional Marksmanship Match at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 5, 2025.

A cadet from Matthew C. Perry High School sets his sights before firing from the standing position during the annual DODEA Pacific East Regional Marksmanship Match at Perry High on Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Janiqua Robinson/Stars and Stripes)

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan – The hometown squad took the team title during a recent marksmanship competition for Defense Department high schools in Japan.

Matthew C. Perry High School was first out of six teams of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets from Department of Defense Education Activity schools in Japan. Sixty shooters took part Friday and Saturday in the DODEA Pacific East Regional Marksmanship Match.

The Matthew C. Perry team of Emma Roberts, Gabriel Martinez, Sophia Kelley, Autumn Hendra, Gabriel Valle and Keanna Kreis with 4306.70 points took first place.

A Yokota High cadet sets her sights before firing from the prone position during the Pacific East Regional Marksmanship Match at Matthew C. Perry High School on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025.

A cadet from Yokota High School sets her sights before firing from the prone position during the annual DODEA Pacific East Regional Marksmanship Match, at Matthew C. Perry High School, Dec. 6, 2025. (Photo by Janiqua Robinson/Stars and Stripes)

JROTC cadets from Robert D. Edgren Middle-High School fire from the kneeling position during the Pacific East Regional Marksmanship Match at Matthew C. Perry High School on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025.

Cadets from Robert D. Edgren Middle-High School fire from the kneeling position during the annual DODEA Pacific East Regional Marksmanship Match, at Matthew C. Perry High School Dec. 6, 2025. (Photo by Janiqua Robinson/Stars and Stripes)

A JROTC cadet from Matthew C. Perry High School listens to advice during the Pacific East Regional Marksmanship Match at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 5, 2025.

Marine Corps Master Sgt. (Ret.) Bradley Cramer, marine instructor and marksmanship coach from Matthew C. Perry High School coaches a cadet before their first relay during the annual DODEA Pacific East Regional Marksmanship Match at Perry High on Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Janiqua Robinson/Stars and Stripes)

A JROTC cadet from Nile C. Kinnick High School sets her sights before firing from the standing position during the Pacific East Regional Marksmanship Match at Matthew C. Perry High School on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 5, 2025.

A cadet from Nile C. Kinnick High School sets her sights before firing from the standing position during the annual DODEA Pacific East Regional Marksmanship Match at Perry High on Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Janiqua Robinson/Stars and Stripes)

A JROTC cadet from Matthew C. Perry High School sets his sights before firing from the standing position during the Pacific East Regional Marksmanship Match. (Photo by Janiqua Robinson/Stars and Stripes)

Nile C. Kinnick High School took second place with Alwen Dedios, Keira Hoffman, Alyssa Frianeza, Lauren Faber notching 4212 points.

The Yokota High School team of Shiri Sojot, Joma Gould, Laivey Tsai and Aeson Overman took third with 4142.80 points.

With a score of 1114.70, Emerson Moore from Zama Middle High School was individual high shooter, followed by Sojot with 1114.40 and Martinez from Matthew C. Perry with 1106.40.

“The thing that I like most about marksmanship is that it teaches the cadets that they have the ability to have dominion over themselves,” said Michael Kelley, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel and the senior Marine instructor at Matthew C. Perry. “So, we’re teaching them discipline in a fun way. It’s very rewarding for me to see a teenager who has very little self-control over their bodies, over their mind, progress through the program.”