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Thursday, February 14, 2008

Moriarty Junior ROTC Ready to Fire Away

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    It's time to get up. It's time to get up this morning. Reveille sounded early for the Moriarty High Army Junior ROTC air-rifle team. The Pintos reported for duty at 0700— getting up at a time that is too much like Zero Dark Thirty for most teens— to garner their pellet-shooting rifles for practice last week.
    Moriarty's indoor, 10-meter range is in a portable to the west of the school's old gym and south of the commons. It can't quite be classified as a Quonset hut, but it'll do.
    "These guys are all motivated this year," said retired Army Maj. Scott Thomas, the team's seventh-year coach. "We go to Belen (for the Valencia County 4-H meet on Saturday) ... Then we're going to have one out here sometime."
    Moriarty's previous best finish at the Junior ROTC state meet was third place in the Army category, seventh overall, in 2003.
    Last year, Thomas' varsity shooters were on temporary duty doing other things. Thomas also was busy as the coach of the Pintos' cross country team.
    As a result, the air-rifle team competed in few events. But Moriarty has a new set of marching orders in 2008.
    "The (National Rifle Association), they give us a $1,000 every year; we couldn't do without their support," Thomas said. "And now, they gave us $1,500. That allows us to buy pellets, air, gas, targets. They don't ask anything of us in return. We just appreciate the support they've given us ..."
    Plus, Thomas is excited about the unit's pending receipt of 15 new Daisy 887 CO2-propelled sporter air rifles.
    "The Army is sending us all new rifles," Thomas said.
    Cadet 1st Lt. Victoria Wylie, a junior, is the team captain.
    The leadership position has also helped her confidence.
    "I used to be afraid to get up in front of people to talk," she said. "It's kind of easier now."
    Wylie's varsity teammates include:
   

Cadet 1st Lt. Jerry Saucedo, a senior;
   

Cadet Command Sgt. Maj. Nona Williams, a junior.
   

Cadet 1st Sgt. Tyler Sage, a sophomore; and
   

Cadet Sgt. Julian Mora, a junior.
    "My whole family has been in the military," Saucedo said. "My brothers are Marines, and my dad was in the Army."
    Freshmen Kyle Kelley, James White and Brandon Wright also practiced.
    "They're doing well," Thomas said of his varsity. "At least these guys are hitting paper."
    Harold Smith can be reached by phone at 823-7104 or by e-mail at hsmith@mvtelegraph.com