Faces of California Military Department's Task Force Torch: National Mentoring Month Spotlights

Story by U.S. Army Sgt Marla Ogden
California Military Department Public Affairs

Jan. 17, 2024

Los Alamitos, Calif.—In her role as a Support Specialist, Spc. Kyla Manlangit assumes various responsibilities at the Oakland Military Institute, a college preparatory academy dedicated to middle and high school students focusing on academic excellence, leadership, citizenship, and college readiness.

Manlangit clarified that although OMI operates as a military institution, it remains a charter school. The key distinction lies in the unique demands and expectations that students are required to fulfill.

“In that aspect, it’s more challenging,” she said. “We do have more of a disciplinary expectation from our students, and also a physical expectation from our students."

Similar to other youth and community programs within the California Military Department's Task Force Torch, OMI instructs youth in the California Cadet Corps curriculum.

“We really support our youth to excel with the military structure and discipline by ensuring that they are prepared,” she said. “We provide all the resources and tools that they may need to excel academically and meet our military standards and expectations."

The staff strives to create an atmosphere at OMI as a place where cadets truly experience a strong sense of community and purpose, she said.

“There’s a lot of students who have been here for a long time, so we have a sense of community and family," she said. “We really pride ourselves on helping transform our students into more well-rounded individuals.”