Cadet John Joseph Bautista assumed charge of more than 100 cadets within the University
of Guam’s ROTC battalion at a change of command ceremony on July 22, where he received
the battalion’s colors from former Cadet Battalion Commander Kortney Camacho.
Camacho is a graduate of Guam High School and is majoring in criminal justice, while
Bautista graduated from Father Dueñas Memorial School and is majoring in business
administration with a concentration in human resources.
Lt. Col. Thomas Anderson, the professor of military science at the University of Guam,
said that Bautista was chosen “based on his demonstrated leadership qualities and
his consistent desire to make others better. He’s a great leader in that he always
pushes himself to be the best he can be, but he also looks to make those other leaders
around him better.”
Newly installed Cadet Battalion Commander John Joseph Bautista of the University of
Guam’s ROTC program addresses the program’s more than 100 cadets during the change
of command ceremony on July 22.
Bautista’s role as battalion commander is one example of the different leadership
positions for which the ROTC cadets are selected during their time as students. Leading
their peers in the program allows the cadets to put into practice the leadership lessons
and theories they learn in the classroom
“Being selected as the battalion commander is a great honor,” Bautista said. “This
gives me the opportunity to be in a unique position to serve my peers and the cadets
of our battalion through developing and overseeing training and providing them with
guidance and direction on this road to commissioning as an officer in the U.S. Army.”
UOG’s ROTC program was established in October 1979 and is celebrating over 40 years
of producing dynamic leaders for Guam, Micronesia, and the United States.
