Saturday, March 1, 2025

Oak Harbor High School NJROTC Competes at All-Navy NJROTC Curtis Drill Meet

Oak Harbor High School NJROTC Competes at All-Navy NJROTC Curtis Drill Meet


Seattle, WA — March 1, 2025


The Oak Harbor High School NJROTC unit is set to showcase their discipline, precision, and teamwork at the prestigious All-Navy NJROTC Curtis Drill Meet, hosted today in Seattle, WA. This elite competition brings together top-performing NJROTC units from across the nation, all vying for supremacy in military drill, physical fitness, and leadership challenges.  


The Curtis Drill Meet is one of the most intense and respected competitions on the NJROTC circuit, demanding excellence in categories such as armed and unarmed drill, color guard, exhibition routines, and academic knowledge tests. Each event is designed to test cadets' ability to work as a cohesive unit, maintain strict discipline, and execute flawless maneuvers under pressure.  


Oak Harbor NJROTC, known for their dedication and rigorous training, has been preparing tirelessly for this opportunity to

compete against the best. Their performances in previous competitions have earned them a reputation as a formidable team, and they are eager to prove themselves on this national stage.  


“Our cadets have worked incredibly hard for this moment,” said a senior Oak Harbor NJROTC leader. “This competition is about more than just winning—it’s about demonstrating our commitment to excellence, teamwork, and leadership.”  


The Curtis Drill Meet is not only a test of skill but also an opportunity for cadets to build camaraderie with their peers from other NJROTC programs. The event fosters sportsmanship, respect, and a shared dedication to the core values of honor, courage, and commitment.  


With high-energy performances, precise drill movements, and unwavering focus, Oak Harbor’s NJROTC unit is prepared to make a strong impression. Regardless of the outcome, they have already proven their dedication to excellence.  


The Oak Harbor community stands behind these cadets, cheering them on as they take on this significant challenge. Best of luck to Oak Harbor NJROTC as they compete in the Curtis Drill Meet, proudly representing their school and Navy tradition!

Saturday, February 1, 2025

NJRTOC Competition 01 February 2025

Oak Harbor High School NJROTC Competes at Regional Competition

Marysville, WA — The Oak Harbor High School NJROTC unit is gearing up for a highly anticipated showdown at Marysville Pilchuck High School as they participate in a fierce regional Navy Junior ROTC competition. This prestigious event brings together some of the most disciplined and skilled cadets from schools across the region, all vying for top honors in categories that test their physical strength, teamwork, leadership, and military precision.

The competition promises a full day of high-stakes events, including unarmed and armed drill routines, physical fitness challenges, color guard presentations, and academic tests designed to evaluate the cadets’ naval knowledge. Each category is an opportunity for NJROTC units to showcase their rigorous training and teamwork, honed over countless hours of preparation.




Oak Harbor’s NJROTC, led by dedicated instructors and commanding cadet officers, has built a reputation for excellence in regional competitions. Their relentless work ethic and commitment to discipline have made them a formidable presence in events like these.

"This is more than just a competition," said one Oak Harbor NJROTC cadet. "It's a chance to prove how far we've come as a team and show what our unit is made of."

Parents, teachers, and supporters from the Oak Harbor community are expected to rally behind the cadets as they take on the best of the region. The event fosters camaraderie and competitive spirit while providing cadets with valuable experiences in leadership, accountability, and precision.

Marysville Pilchuck High School will host dozens of NJROTC units from across Washington, all bringing their A-game to claim coveted awards. With a reputation for thrilling performances, tight drill formations, and unwavering discipline, spectators can expect an intense and inspiring day.




No matter the final outcome, Oak Harbor High School’s cadets have already demonstrated the core values of honor, courage, and commitment. As they march into the regional competition, they carry with them the pride of their school and community.

Best of luck to Oak Harbor NJROTC as they represent their school with dignity and determination on this competitive stage!


ChatGPT. (2025, February 1). Oak Harbor High School NJROTC competes at regional competition.

Saturday, January 4, 2025

New Board Game

 I asked Chat GPT to create a new game based on Catan and Ticket to Ride. This is the concept result:




Here’s a concept for combining *Catan* and *Ticket to Ride* into one cohesive and adventurous board game:


### Game Title: *Catan: Rails & Settlements*


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### Theme:  

Players are pioneers expanding a new land, building settlements, claiming railway routes, and trading resources to dominate the map. The goal is to become the ultimate builder by combining the strategic depth of resource management with route-building adventure.


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### Objective:

Be the first player to reach **25 Victory Points** by:

- Building settlements and cities.

- Completing rail routes between key destinations.

- Achieving special objectives (e.g., Longest Railway, Largest Network, or secret goals).


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### Components:

- **Catan hex board tiles** (fields, forests, mountains, hills, pastures, and deserts).  

- **Ticket to Ride route cards** (short and long destination tickets).  

- Resource cards (*wood, brick, sheep, ore, wheat*).  

- Train cards (colored cards for building routes).  

- Settlements, cities, and train pieces.  

- Development cards with bonuses (new mix of Catan & Ticket to Ride mechanics).  


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### Set-Up:

1. Assemble a map with Catan hexes for terrain and connect hexes with Ticket to Ride-style train routes.  

2. Place numbers (2-12) on resource-producing hexes like Catan.  

3. Shuffle and distribute destination route cards to each player (pick 2 to keep).  

4. Each player places two settlements and two trains to start the game.  


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### Gameplay:

Players take turns in clockwise order, performing the following steps:  


1. **Roll for Resources (Catan Style)**:  

   - Roll two dice to determine which hexes produce resources for all players.  


2. **Collect Resources**:  

   - If you have a settlement or city adjacent to the rolled number, collect resources from the hex.


3. **Actions (Choose any combination)**:  

   - **Build a Settlement**: Spend 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wheat, and 1 sheep. Settlements earn 1 Victory Point.  

   - **Upgrade to a City**: Spend 3 ore and 2 wheat. Cities earn 2 Victory Points.  

   - **Claim a Route**: Spend train cards of matching colors to claim a train route between settlements. Earn points based on the route’s length.  

   - **Complete a Destination Ticket**: Connect your settlements and train routes to the cities listed on your ticket to earn bonus points.  

   - **Trade Resources**: Trade with the bank (4:1 by default) or with other players (negotiated deals).  


4. **Draw Cards**:  

   - Draw resource cards if needed (from hex rolls or trades).  

   - Draw train cards if you plan to build routes in the future.  


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### Scoring Points:

- **Settlements**: 1 point each.  

- **Cities**: 2 points each.  

- **Routes Completed**: Based on the length of the train route (like Ticket to Ride).  

- **Destination Tickets**: Earn points for successfully connecting cities listed on your tickets; lose points for uncompleted tickets.  

- **Longest Continuous Railway**: 10 bonus points.  

- **Largest Network of Settlements**: 10 bonus points.  


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### Winning the Game:

The game ends when one player reaches **25 Victory Points**. Finish the current round so all players have an equal number of turns. The player with the most points at the end is declared the winner.  


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### Special Rules:

- **Robber Train**:  

   If a "7" is rolled, the robber can block a key train route or settlement. Players with more than 7 cards lose half their cards (Catan rule).  


- **Wildcards**:  

   Train cards serve as wildcards for resource trading. For example, 3 matching train cards can substitute for a missing resource.  


- **Development Cards**:  

   Add cards for special powers like double resource collection, free routes, or extra settlement builds.


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### Why It Works:

- Combines the strategic resource generation and settlement building of *Catan* with the route-building and destination goals of *Ticket to Ride*.  

- Encourages dynamic player interaction through trading, blocking routes, and strategic development.  

- Offers multiple paths to victory, appealing to diverse play styles.  

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Let me know what you think!

#boardgames #Catan #ticket to ride