Menifee Navy JROTC team heads to national championships

MENIFEE, Calif. (KABC) -- For the Navy Junior Reserves Officers Training Corps program at Paloma Valley High School in Menifee, learning drills require precision, focus, attention to detail and other valuable life lessons.

"Most people think it's just about the military, but there's a lot about leadership, getting to know different people," student Dennis Caoile, Jr. said.

"It's taught me how to be a better person, how to treat people right," student Kayla Arevalo said.

It also teaches students how to show up on time.

"Being on time is late, being early is on time," said Master Sgt. Frank Puebla, who is in charge of the program.

"I have amazing kids. Each one of them is unique and has their own stories -- from broken homes to I got a couple who live in group homes," Puebla added.

"There's a lot of stress at home, but I work through it every day," Arevalo said.

That work has paid off. For the first time ever, they're going to the NJROTC Nationals Drill Championship in Pensacola, Florida.

"Never been out of state or on an airplane, so, it's pretty exciting," Arevalo said.

The trip to Florida isn't going to be easy, but they've gotten creative. For example, they didn't need to buy plane tickets

"We were lucky enough to get on a military aircraft, a NALO flight, a Naval air lift flight," Puebla said.

Being resourceful is another valuable lesson.

They leave for Florida next week.