“Color guard, post colors.” In precise formation with perfectly cadenced step, four smartly uniformed Army ROTC cadets, silver helmets sparkling, stepped onto the main floor of the BYU-Hawaii Cannon Activities Center and posted the flags of the United States of America and Hawaii.
It was a first in the history of BYU-Hawaii--the first commencement at which a BYU-Hawaii Army ROTC Cadet Color Guard performed that duty. The first established Color Guard team at BYU-Hawaii posted colors for the first time in BYU-Hawaii history during the inauguration of President Steven C. Wheelwright, 6 November 2007.
“The Color Guard is one of the most noticeable extra curricular activities within the Army ROTC program,” said Captain Serafina Sauia. According to Captain Sauia, the Color Guard consists of four highly motivated cadets that take pride in the presentation of the national colors at a variety of events.
“To become part of this dedicated group of cadets, you must be willing to learn and understand the fundamental movements of Drill and Ceremony,” said Captain Sauia. It also requires time to practice and participate in the events at which the colors are presented, along with the willingness to do something that many others often will not do.
BYU-Hawaii ROTC students participating in this historic event were Cadet Siope Langi, a junior in political science from Maui, HI; Cadet Peter D. Oehler, a sophomore majoring in information systems from New Mexico; and Cadet Rafael M. Barber, a freshman with an undeclared major from American Samoa. Cadet Micah Stevenson, a sophomore from Texas, the fourth member of the BYU-Hawaii team was unable to attend the commencement ceremony. Filling in for him was Staff Sargeant Rocky Siufanua, a BYU-Hawaii senior from American Samoa.
Captain Sauia was assigned as a full-time ROTC instructor on the BYU-Hawaii campus fall semester 2007. A 1997 BYU-Hawaii alumna, she is the first female to commission as an Army officer from BYU-Hawaii.
The first male Army ROTC cadet to graduate from BYU-Hawaii and commssion as an officer in the U.S. Army was Major (retired) Hans Taala, who currently works as campus Chief of Security, along with coordinating the ROTC programs.
Although BYU-Hawaii students have been participating in the Army ROTC program for many years, it has involved a commute of at least one hour each way, to and from the University of Hawaii Manoa campus. Captain Sauia said that because of the travel and extra time involved, very few BYU-Hawaii students have successfully completed the four-year ROTC program concurrently with their four-year degree.
Now that Captain Sauia has been assigned as a full-time Army ROTC instructor on campus, she said it is her hope that more BYU-Hawaii students will aspire to become future leaders in the United States Army.