Fort Leavenworth area Junior ROTCAca,!E+teams vie in Raider competition

By Tisha Johnson, Fort Leavenworth LampMay 14, 2009

Fort Leavenworth area Junior ROTCAca,!E+teams vie in Raider competition
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Leavenworth area Junior ROTCAca,!E+teams vie in Raider competition
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Fort Leavenworth area Junior ROTCAca,!E+teams vie in Raider competition
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Cadet 1st Lt. Brenda Zaragoza and Cadet Master Sgt. Andrea Moore, of Smith-Cotton JROTC, listen to Cadet Capt. Samantha Moore, not pictured, for instruction in assembling a tent while blindfolded during the Raider Challenge May 9 at Camp Miles, Fort ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Leavenworth area Junior ROTCAca,!E+teams vie in Raider competition
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Cadet Ensign Zach Stultz, Cadet Commander James Kenny, Cadet Commander Andrew Lake and Cadet Ensign Cody Stultz of Shawnee Mission West Navy Junior ROTC participate in the cross-country litter carry event during the Leavenworth High School-sponsored ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Leavenworth area Junior ROTCAca,!E+teams vie in Raider competition
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Cadet 2nd Lt. Lauren Sparks and Cadet Sgt. 1st Class Seth Pennock, of St. Joseph, Mo., Pony Express Raider Challenge A Team, cross a one-rope bridge as Cadet Sgt. Jonathan Montgomery and Cadet Capt. Micah Carr prepare to do the same during the timed... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (May 14, 2009) - Fort Leavenworth supported the Leavenworth High School Junior ROTC Raider Challenge May 8 and 9.

This was the first time LHS hosted the competition. JROTC Senior Army Instructor retired Lt. Col. David Black said the event was a success and the group is looking to host the competition again next year.

Black said about 35 military members from the Fort Leavenworth community volunteered to help with the event, and that didn't include the civilian and military parents of cadets associated with the fort who were also on hand to help.

"I was totally amazed by the support Fort Leavenworth gave us," Black said. "The bottom line is the facilities at Fort Leavenworth are perfect for what we did."https://core.us.army.mil/core/about/pages/draftPrompt.php'id=0

Ten Raider teams from eight schools participated in the two-day event.

The cadets began their visit to Fort Leavenworth May 8 with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter orientation flight. Several also attended the Lt. Dan Band concert at Merritt Lake that evening. The teams then bedded down in one of the gymnasiums at Harney Sports Complex.

Wake-up call was at 4:45 a.m. for the cadets in the gym. They competed in seven different events including a modified Army Physical Fitness Test, poncho raft swim, 10-kilometer road march, land navigation, cross-country litter carry, single rope bridge construction and a surprise event, which turned out to be a "blind" tent construction.

Leavenworth High School Senior and JROTC Raider team commander Cadet Capt. Daryl Brown said the Raiders are a high-adventure organization focused on physical fitness.

"The competition is very physically demanding," Brown said.

Brown said he joined the Raiders because of the physical challenge and because it is something not very many people get to do. The LHS group has competed in similar events at other schools.

"I think today went great, the events went quickly the cadets had a lot of fun," Brown said. "I think everyone walked away with a smile on their face - and some sore legs and bodies."

The Smith-Cotton High School Team Black from Sedalia, Mo., won first place in the APFT event. Second and third were awarded to Missouri Military Academy from Mexico, Mo., and Benton High School from St. Joseph, Mo., respectively.

The Clinton High School A Team from Clinton, Iowa, won first place in the poncho raft swim. Second and third place were awarded to, Shawnee Mission West High School's Navy JROTC team from Overland Park, Kan., and Missouri Military Academy, respectively.

First place in the 10-kilometer road march was awarded to Missouri Military Academy. Second and third were awarded to Smith-Cotton High School's Team Black and Benton High School.

Smith-Cotton High School's Team Gold landed first place in land navigation. Second and third were awarded to Clinton High School's A Team and Smith-Cotton High School's Team Black, respectively.

The team from Missouri Military Academy won first place in the surprise event. Second and third were given to Smith-Cotton High School's Team Black and Benton High School, respectively.

Smith-Cotton High School's Team Black won first in the cross-country litter carry. Second and third were awarded to Missouri Military Academy and Smith-Cotton High School's Team Gold.

Clinton High School's A Team came in first in the rope bridge event. Second and third were awarded to Smith-Cotton High School's Team Black and Missouri Military Academy, respectively.

The overall winners of the competition was the Smith-Cotton High School's Team Black. Second and third were awarded to, Missouri Military Academy and Clinton High School A Team, respectively.