JROTC sets up field day
photo by Angelica Mendez
The JROTC battalion stand in formation within their companies, while preparing to play soccer. Soccer was one among the many game they placed on their March 31, field day.
Lining up on opposing sides, JROTC cadets prepared for “crazy ball.” The game, created by the cadets, was one of many played at their field day on March 31.
Every school year, JROTC leadership prepares a field day to give the cadets a fun yet beneficial break from their normal work, as well as to get cadets from different periods together. This year’s field day included activities like the Raider Challenge, dodgeball, soccer and kickball.
“A lot of the year we have been separated within different periods, but this is our chance to get people together,” Executive Officer Andrew Lane said. “One of the biggest things we focus on in JROTC is teamwork, and getting people together with people they have not been with before allows them to build different bonds and maybe make some new friends.”
The event started at the beginning of the day and lasted most of the day, allowing cadets to join the activities when they could. Cadets were broken up into different companies, either Alpha, Bravo, Charlie or Delta, with company commanders and other leadership helping set up games and lead them.
While most of the activities are basic games like dodgeball and soccer, activities like the Raider Challenge and crazy ball are games they came up with themselves. With the Raider Challenge, cadets are broken up into teams of 10 and run one and a half miles with a 30 pound rucksack. The goal of it is to give a physical challenge, but also develop teamwork by not leaving anyone behind. Crazy ball is just their own adaptation of flag football where two teams try to grab a tennis ball from another team’s bin with the goal of getting the ball without getting their flag pulled.
While cadet leadership does not participate in the games, they still have lots to do during that time. Leadership helps set up and clean after activities, while also acting as referees for the various games. Between planning and execution, they do what they can to run their battalion like the leadership before them.
“When I was a freshman, the leader that I looked up to the most was the Raiders captain, and I followed in his footsteps and ended up really focusing on Raiders. [It] helped me build a lot of teamwork and leadership skills along the way, it [really is] the best hands down,” Lt. Col. Samuel Shultz said.
Within the field day activities, and the JROTC program as a whole, there is a focus on teamwork and building upon all basic and essential life skills.
“Other than physical activity, we learn about various things such as first aid, and how to be a better citizen in society,” Lane said. “It teaches you different life skills that you can use later on. [Between] career building skills and stuff you can use to get into college, JROTC can give you experience for that and help you proceed in life.”
Whether planning to join the military or not, JROTC helps students learn more about the world and themselves. Through activities like the field day, blood drives and classes that help cadets mentally and physically, the goal of events like this is not to just build future military personnel, but contributing citizens of tomorrow.
“JROTC is not about joining the military, it is about taking all of the things that are personal about you and building upon those. If you have discipline, we hone that discipline,” 1st Sgt. Louis Strickland said. “[It teaches] life learning skills, understanding of what is going on in the world today and [offers] opportunities that help develop young people and turn them into outstanding citizens.”
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