FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (April 14, 2016) -- Fort Leonard Wood recently provided the hub for high school JROTC cadets to reach new heights in physical fitness and mental toughness.
The U.S. Army Engineer School's 1st Engineer Brigade worked with Waynesville High School to host its first invitational JROTC Raider Challenge April 1 and 2, for nearly 120 JROTC cadets and 45 chaperones, coaches and cadre.
Twelve competing teams from seven schools worked through challenges during the full-day competition consisting of a physical fitness test, 10k ruck march, one-rope bridge, physical endurance course, the "monkey fist" relay, the Gauntlet 2 mile run over rough terrain, and a 1 1/2 mile run for the top competitors from each of the participating teams.
"In large part, the 1st Engineer Brigade did all the hard work," explained retired Col. Charles Williams, Waynesville High School JROTC, senior Army instructor. "We gave them the plan that we developed, and they've been amazing. I hope this becomes an enduring event."
One distinct difference for this Raider meet was that teams stayed in Army barracks, experienced a dining facility on post, and were guided and evaluated by nearly 100 permanent party Soldiers and lieutenants in the Engineer Basic Officer Leader Course, who volunteered to assist.
While Raider meets take place across the country, many cadets agreed that holding the event at a military installation was beneficial.
"I liked the interaction with Soldiers," said Julia Bullard, Ozark High School, Ozark, Missouri, JROTC cadet. "Watching battalions marching around and chow time gave us an insight not only to why we are here to challenge ourselves and be a Raider, but I also got to see what kind of program Raiders is based off of."
One JROTC instructor commented that Soldiers quickly became role models for the cadets.
"This is the best Raider meet we've ever been to," said retired Lt. Joshua Reitz, who now teaches as a senior Army instructor at Joplin High School, in Joplin, Missouri. "The kids aren't used to seeing this kind of training environment. The (Army) lieutenants not only served as guides to help get cadets where they need to go, but also served as mentors and leaders taking time out to talk to them about their career path and what they might want to do in the real world. It's been a win-win-win."
Army drill sergeants did not cut any corners when evaluating cadets during the early morning physical fitness, or PRT test, which consisted of push-ups, situps and a 1 mile run.
"As drill sergeants, we grade by Army standards and though it was a modified PT test, we still held them to the standard," said Staff Sgt. Agsel Hernandez, Company D, 35th Engineer Battalion drill sergeant. "That plays with people. It's like a culture shock. We call it 'hitting the wall.' So, they hit the wall, but they recovered and kept going."
Recovery was key to cadets maintaining the strength to run more than 13 miles throughout the day, not including the Physical Endurance Course, said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Brazeal, 1st Engr. Bde. Operations, who conducted the recon and safety check of each event.
"There is a lot of rough, uneven terrain and even though the distance is about a mile around, it feels a lot longer when you have weight on your back," said Sgt. Casey Ward, 1st Engr. Bde., who assisted at the Gauntlet run. "You can take a one-half mile run and make it feel like two miles with the weight."
At the end of the day, teams formed up for final remarks and an award ceremony.
Waynesville High School's Tiger Battalion took top honors in the inaugural meet, which was "highly competitive," according to Brazeal.
"We like to be competitive, so we do a lot of training," said Edward Warren, Waynesville High School JROTC cadet. "PT is done on our own, and we expect that of each person on our team. We do a lot of techniques and skills during weekday practice Monday through Thursday."
Warren, who plans to enlist in the Army after high school, said living near a military base means an additional challenge "of people who come in and out" of the area.
"We just like to go out there and give it our best," he said.
Waynesville High School and the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri, were represented by one team each, while Fredericktown High School, St. John's Military School, Salina, Kansas, Lee's Summit High School Air Force JROTC, Ozark High School, and Joplin High School each entered two teams in the inaugural Raider Challenge.
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