Calif. cadet finds color guard excitement contagious

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Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Ruby Rosado, then a cadet airman first class, and her color guard teammate, Cadet Tech. Sgt. Michael Chung, prepare for the posting of the American flag at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium last September.

(Photo by Capt. Audrey DiGiantomasso, California Wing)


Maj. John DiGiantomasso
Deputy Commander for Cadets
Skyhawk Composite Squadron 47
California Wing

CALIFORNIA -- Attending the 2009 National Cadet Competition as the alternate with the Pacific Region color guard was a thrill for Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Ruby Rosado … but that’s something this 15-year-old has learned to expect as a member of California Wing’s Skyhawk Composite Squadron 47, based at the U.S. Marine Corps’ Camp Pendleton in Oceanside.

From Day One as a color guard candidate, Rosado has literally hit the ground running to hone her color guard skills. It all started Sept. 2, 2008, the day the squadron began a new season of color guard workouts.

“When I asked for volunteers for an extra work detail for Sunday, Sept. 7, Ruby was the first to raise her hand,” said Maj. John DiGiantomasso, the squadron’s deputy commander for cadets. “Others were unsure or making excuses, until I said, ‘… because the San Diego Chargers have invited us to post the colors for their season opener against the Carolina Panthers.’

“I got a few more volunteers after that, but Ruby was the first volunteer with mission unknown.”

That night, just five days before the big event, Rosado – then a cadet airman first class -- was assigned a rifle to participate. She had never worked with a rifle before.

“When Maj. D asked for some volunteers for that Sunday I never thought it would be to post the colors for thousands of people in Qualcomm Stadium for the Chargers,” she said.

“Ruby is left-handed, and since we had only five days to nail down her performance, we opted to go with symmetrical rifles, with our senior rifle at right shoulder arms on the right, and Ruby as our junior rifle at left shoulder arms on the left,” DiGiantomasso recalled.

“We practiced that Tuesday night and for several hours on Saturday to cover the basics of the Manual of Arms and moving in abouts. Ruby worked on her own at home every night as well.”

Added the cadet: “It was definitely a great challenge, but with the guidance of a few officers that were helping with color guard I learned the rifle movements, and despite a few nerves I was ready to perform with the color guard.”

At 1:15 p.m. that Sunday, Rosado stepped onto the football field at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego at left rifle with the Squadron 47 color guard. The field was packed with cheerleaders, players and coaches, and the Marines unfurled a massive American flag.

The “Star-Spangled Banner” was sung. A U.S. Air Force C-17 soared overhead, and fireworks quickly filled the sky. The color guard retired from the field.

“Ruby executed flawlessly,” DiGiantomasso said.

“We really worked as a team, and even with cannons going off and countless barriers taking place, we executed our best performance,” Rosado said.

That sense of volunteerism, dedication and determination throughout the color guard season earned Rosado a slot as an alternate on the Pacific Region color guard at the National Cadet Competition.

“Throughout the season, she watched the Squadron 47 color guard take first place at Group 7, California Wing and Pacific Region competitions and had to deal with the nerves of being watched by fellow cadets, senior members, parents and judges,” DiGiantomasso said. “But I think nothing will compare to being watched by a crowd of 67,115 people at Qualcomm Stadium.”

“Presenting the colors for the Chargers helped us with our focus for competition,” said Rosado, who participated in the national competition as a cadet senior master sergeant.

“Being able to attend NCC this year was great, and I have to say taking part of the joint color guard was an epic experience,” she said. “It was interesting to see how parts of all the color guards nationwide could come together for a performance.”

The Pacific Region team placed second at NCC, much to the delight of DiGiantomasso.

But the story doesn’t end here. Rather, it’s just beginning.

Guess who has volunteered to lead Squadron 47’s color guard team next year?

“Ruby wants to be commander of the color guard for 2010,” DiGiantomasso said.

“I plan on bringing together the 2010 color guard on a growth mindset with the goal of always improving,” Rosado said. “I am sure this will bring forth good competition for the upcoming year.”

DiGiantomasso doesn’t doubt it.

“I think she’ll do great.”