Junior ROTC cadets from multiple area schools brought home national accolades after competing at a national competition in Kentucky.

Cadets from Reno High School, Galena High School and Spanish Springs High School traveled to Fort Knox for the Army JROTC Raider Nationals competition last week.

Events at the competition included:

  • Physical Team Test - A 1/3-mile obstacle course, carrying various pieces of heavy equipment along the course 
  • 5K run – A three-mile run through the woods and up and down hills 
  • Gauntlet – A one-mile course through the woods, carrying equipment through, over and under multiple obstacles
  • Rope Bridge - Teams must set up a one rope bridge, cross a shallow river obstacle and disassemble the rope bridge
  • Cross-Country Rescue - Teams race one mile through wooded terrain while carrying a simulated casualty and equipment. The course includes rolling terrain, sand, and improved dirt roads. Teams must also negotiate an 8-foot wall and a low-crawl area.

The Galena High School's Grizzlies Battalion mixed team landed fifth in the Gauntlet, and eighth place overall in the mixed category.

Reno High School's Huskie Battalion female team placed second in the Rope Bridge, fifth in the Physical Team test, fifth in the Cross-Country Rescue, fourth in the Gauntlet, and fifth place overall in the female team category.

The Spanish Springs High School Cougar Battalion was the only team from the Washoe County School District that participated in the Master's Division; they placed 24th in the nation.

The male cadets in the Cougar Battalion were also part of the top team in the Master's Division for the 8th Brigade, which represented teams from six western states, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa.

The JROTC Raider Nationals competition is hosted by the U.S. Army Cadet Command and brought nearly 3,900 Cadets from more than 220 schools across the nation.

This is the second time the event has been held at Fort Knox.