Saipan Southern High School opened on the 18th of August 2002 with the program National Defense Cadet Corps headed by Sergeant First Class Juan King.  On May of 2003, the Manta Ray Battalion picked up a Senior Army Instructor, Sergeant Major Joaquin O. Kiyoshi.

On July 1, 2003, the Manta Ray Battalion officially became Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

Changes continued with SFC Juan King transferring on September 2003.  A new Army Instructor, Sergeant First Class Richard Haugh, was hired on November 15, 2003.  Since then, the MRB has been holding steady and strong.

In November 2005, the MRB underwent the Formal Inspection, 

receiving the Honor Unit with Distinction Award.

In December 2006, the MRB retained its HUD with a score of 592 which was the second highest score in the Western Region and the highest in the Pacific Region.

On April 19, 2008, the MRB won overall first place at the MSU Inter-Island Drill Competition. The Manta Ray Battalion Cadet Chain of Command too has seen its share of strong leaders