High school JROTC cadets from Reno, Galena and Spanish Springs high schools brought home national honors after competing in the U.S. Army JROTC Raider Nationals at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

The competition, which tested cadets’ strength and teamwork, included events such as a 5K run, a cross-country rescue and a rope bridge assembly across a shallow river. Galena High’s mixed team placed fifth in the Gauntlet and eighth overall, while Reno High’s female team took second in the Rope Bridge, with additional top-five finishes in the Physical Team Test, Cross-Country Rescue and Gauntlet.

Spanish Springs High School’s Cougar Battalion competed in the Master’s division, placing 24th nationally and first among male cadets from the U.S. Army’s 8th Brigade, which includes teams from six western states as well as Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our cadets,” said retired Lt. Col. Scott Caldwell, director of the Washoe County School District JROTC program. “They worked hard to compete at their best and represented Nevada with great sportsmanship.”

The event, hosted by U.S. Army Cadet Command, drew nearly 3,900 cadets from more than 220 schools nationwide and as far away as Guam.

Source: WCSD