Mountain Raider Competition 2017 - 2018
Seven cadets from the Rockcastle County JROTC Raider team participated in the Mountain Raider challenge this Saturday, April 14th, hosted by the Knox County JROTC Program and members of the National Guard on the Harold L. Disney National Guard Training Site in Artemus, Kentucky.
The competition started with the APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test) that required girls to get 19 push-ups and 53 sit-ups, and boys to get 42 push-ups and 53 sit-ups, along with a two-mile run at the end. The challenge also included several other tasks such as completing a grueling obstacle course, repelling down a four-story tower, a land navigation test (cadets were required to utilize an azimuth compass to find and record the paces and positions between 4 points placed adjacent to the obstacle field and a near-by forest), and the final first-aid test that required cadets to apply their knowledge of first-aid to a thirty question test.
The last event of the day was a three-mile ruck march in which cadets were required to carry their filled canteens and a nine-pound drill rifle while marching alongside the other schools at the event without falling behind the rescue van following them. After the march was the final award ceremony. Cadets Cager Doan, Amber Doan, Cody Morris, and Lydia Walker all received the prestigious Mountain Raider tab, and the Rockcastle County Raider team won the overall event, bringing home the Mountain Raider trophy. Congratulations to all the cadets who participated in the challenge and thank you to the Knox County JROTC and the Kentucky National Guard for setting up and managing the event!
The competition started with the APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test) that required girls to get 19 push-ups and 53 sit-ups, and boys to get 42 push-ups and 53 sit-ups, along with a two-mile run at the end. The challenge also included several other tasks such as completing a grueling obstacle course, repelling down a four-story tower, a land navigation test (cadets were required to utilize an azimuth compass to find and record the paces and positions between 4 points placed adjacent to the obstacle field and a near-by forest), and the final first-aid test that required cadets to apply their knowledge of first-aid to a thirty question test.
The last event of the day was a three-mile ruck march in which cadets were required to carry their filled canteens and a nine-pound drill rifle while marching alongside the other schools at the event without falling behind the rescue van following them. After the march was the final award ceremony. Cadets Cager Doan, Amber Doan, Cody Morris, and Lydia Walker all received the prestigious Mountain Raider tab, and the Rockcastle County Raider team won the overall event, bringing home the Mountain Raider trophy. Congratulations to all the cadets who participated in the challenge and thank you to the Knox County JROTC and the Kentucky National Guard for setting up and managing the event!
JROTC Military Dine-In 2017 - 2018
Rockcastle County JROTC held their 21st annual dine-in on Friday, April 13th. The dine-in contained an opening statement by the previous battalion commander, Cadet Colonel Clare Beichler, a slideshow of all the major battalion activities in the 2017-18 year, the senior slideshow that recognizes the graduating seniors and their parents, a dinner provided by Limestone Grille and catered by the Rockcastle FCCLA, the final award ceremony presented by Captain Jeffery Thompson, members of the American Legion, and the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the final change-of-command, which includes the previous battalion commander, Cadet Clare Beichler, transferring command to the new battalion commander, Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Amber Doan. At the end, there was also a special speech given by Cadet Clare Beichler reflecting on how the JROTC program changed her life and the memories she gained along the way, as well as congratulating Captain Jeffery Thompson for his 11 years instructing at the Rockcastle County JROTC and wishing him well on his retirement. A specialized plaque was presented to Captain Jeffery Thompson as well, commemorating his service to the Rockcastle County JROTC.
The awards and the cadets that received them are as follows:
Essay Award
-Clare Beichler
-David Peavie
The Department of Superior Cadet
-Madison Bryant
-Richie Clouse
-David Peavie
-Benton Kuntz
-Clare Beichler
The American Legion Award for Scholastic Excellence
-Steven Rowe
The Eastern Kentucky University Deans’ Achievement Award
-Clare Beichler
The American Legion Military Excellence Award
-Amber Doan
The U.S. Army Recruiting Command Award
-Jacob Lamb
The Outstanding Citizen Award
-Matthew Gadd
The Daughters of the American Revolution Award
-Shetarra Prickett
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
-Benjamin Tyler
The Association of the United States Army Award
-Aleya Powell
The Military Officers Association Award
-Clare Beichler
The National Sojourners JROTC Award
-Jake Neeley
The Reserve Officer Association Award
-Larry Vanwinkle
The Retired Enlisted Association
-Benton Kuntz
The Military Order of the World Wars Award of Merit
-Paige Fowler
Military Order of the Purple Heart Award
-David Peavie
Veterans of Foreign Wars Award
-Connor Noble
82nd Airborne Association Award
-Chanler Cole
Good Conduct Award
-Brittney McGuire
-Zachary Robinson
The Army JROTC Leadership Award
-JJ Clouse
-Andrew Didelot
-Zachary Fetters
-Zachary Poyle
-Eli Price
-Sarah Pride
The Army JROTC Commendation Award
-Selena Burdine
-Cager Doan
-Eva Jackson
-Cody Morris
-Kensie Sheffield
-Alexis Stewart
-Tyler Wood
The awards and the cadets that received them are as follows:
Essay Award
-Clare Beichler
-David Peavie
The Department of Superior Cadet
-Madison Bryant
-Richie Clouse
-David Peavie
-Benton Kuntz
-Clare Beichler
The American Legion Award for Scholastic Excellence
-Steven Rowe
The Eastern Kentucky University Deans’ Achievement Award
-Clare Beichler
The American Legion Military Excellence Award
-Amber Doan
The U.S. Army Recruiting Command Award
-Jacob Lamb
The Outstanding Citizen Award
-Matthew Gadd
The Daughters of the American Revolution Award
-Shetarra Prickett
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
-Benjamin Tyler
The Association of the United States Army Award
-Aleya Powell
The Military Officers Association Award
-Clare Beichler
The National Sojourners JROTC Award
-Jake Neeley
The Reserve Officer Association Award
-Larry Vanwinkle
The Retired Enlisted Association
-Benton Kuntz
The Military Order of the World Wars Award of Merit
-Paige Fowler
Military Order of the Purple Heart Award
-David Peavie
Veterans of Foreign Wars Award
-Connor Noble
82nd Airborne Association Award
-Chanler Cole
Good Conduct Award
-Brittney McGuire
-Zachary Robinson
The Army JROTC Leadership Award
-JJ Clouse
-Andrew Didelot
-Zachary Fetters
-Zachary Poyle
-Eli Price
-Sarah Pride
The Army JROTC Commendation Award
-Selena Burdine
-Cager Doan
-Eva Jackson
-Cody Morris
-Kensie Sheffield
-Alexis Stewart
-Tyler Wood
Middle School mentoring 2017-2018
On December 5th and 6th, 2017, a group of cadets went to Rockcastle County Middle School to mentor eighth graders about the JROTC Program. The Raider, Rifle, and Drill Team brought materials to show them what they do in each team. Raider Team brought ropes to show the eighth graders how to tie knots and do a rope bridge. Once the rope bridge was done, the eighth graders, that volunteered, got to experience going across the rope bridge with the supervision of the cadets. Rifle team brought a mat (to do prone position), a scope (to see the target), one kneeling role, a stand(to hold the pellet boxes), and all three rifles (sporter, advanced sporter, and the precision rifle). Each cadet introduced each rifle to the eighth graders and they got to hold each rifle and do one out of three positions (prone, kneeling and standing). Drill Team brought the American and State flag, two drill rifles, and two savors. The eighth graders got to hold each item while the Drill Team talked about what they are used for and what they do during drill practices. David Peavie was chosen to talk to the eighth graders about the JROTC requirements, teams, and about what the program is about. Between each group, besides the raider team, got twelve minutes to talk about their team and JROTC.
Raider Team Cadets: Amber Doan, Cody Morris, Shawna Mink, Billy Boggs, Elijah Vaught, and Ethan Syalor
Rifle Team Cadets: Paige Fowler, Larry Vanwinkle, Walker Lay, Hunter Medley, and Hannah Cloepfil
Drill Team Cadets: Alyea Powell, Sebastion Poynter, Benton Kuntz, David Peavie, and Chanler Cole
Raider Team Cadets: Amber Doan, Cody Morris, Shawna Mink, Billy Boggs, Elijah Vaught, and Ethan Syalor
Rifle Team Cadets: Paige Fowler, Larry Vanwinkle, Walker Lay, Hunter Medley, and Hannah Cloepfil
Drill Team Cadets: Alyea Powell, Sebastion Poynter, Benton Kuntz, David Peavie, and Chanler Cole
raider NATIONALS 2017-2018
Raider Nationals 2017-2018
The Rockcastle County JROTC High School Raider Team traveled all the way to Molena Georgia in order to compete in the Nation Raider Competition. We camped the nights of November 3rd and 4th and left around 2 PM on Sunday. Ethan Saylor, Elijah Vaught, Kinzie Sheffield, Nathan Renner, Billy Boggs, Benton Kuntz, Sebastian Pointer, Lydia Walker, Shawna Mink, and Amber Doan all competed in a 5 Kilometer run, the Cross county rescue (3 quarter mile run with 35 pound backpacks and a 95 pound litter, a waist deep mud crawl and a 6 foot wall), the One Rope bridge, the “Raider Gauntlet” (a run through woods with 35 pound backpacks, an 8 foot wall, and tunnels that cadets had to crawl through), and the Physical Team Test ( a run where cadets had to carry various items, such as a canoe, or ammo crates.). Overall, we placed 21st out of 31 schools, and the entire team was given chest medals and a group photo.
The Rockcastle County JROTC High School Raider Team traveled all the way to Molena Georgia in order to compete in the Nation Raider Competition. We camped the nights of November 3rd and 4th and left around 2 PM on Sunday. Ethan Saylor, Elijah Vaught, Kinzie Sheffield, Nathan Renner, Billy Boggs, Benton Kuntz, Sebastian Pointer, Lydia Walker, Shawna Mink, and Amber Doan all competed in a 5 Kilometer run, the Cross county rescue (3 quarter mile run with 35 pound backpacks and a 95 pound litter, a waist deep mud crawl and a 6 foot wall), the One Rope bridge, the “Raider Gauntlet” (a run through woods with 35 pound backpacks, an 8 foot wall, and tunnels that cadets had to crawl through), and the Physical Team Test ( a run where cadets had to carry various items, such as a canoe, or ammo crates.). Overall, we placed 21st out of 31 schools, and the entire team was given chest medals and a group photo.
Wildcat Mountain
Wildcat Mountain
A group of cadets participated in a community service event at the Civil War Reenactment during the weekend of October 20-22, 2017. Henry Smith, the Operations Officer from the Laurel Home Guard, has said on numerous occasions that, without help from the Rocket Battalion JROTC it would be hard to host Camp Wildcat to the public. Each cadet had a job and contributed differently during this event.
The group of cadets sectioned off into four separate groups: Disabled parking, Donations, Regular parking, and Trash detail. The donations group greeted guest at the entrance and received more than $1,800.00 for the Laurel Home Guard, while traffic went on smoothly thanks to the supervision of the cadets. The environment was also made to stay clean thanks to the trash detail.
While attending Wildcat Mountain, the cadets got to enjoy themselves by camping and doing recreational activities such as dancing in the barn Saturday night. Cadets cooked the Camp Wildcat Reenactors a breakfast of: biscuits, gravy, scrambled eggs, tenderloin and or sausage and a dessert of fried apples. The following cadets will be awarded the JROTC Commendation Ribbon (N-3-7) for outstanding performance of assigned duties; Hannah Cloepfil, Shawna Mink, David Peavie and Shetarra Prickett.
The Rocket Battalion would like to thank the Laurel Home Guard Staff for giving us such a great opportunity in gaining community service and allowing us to camp. The cadets had a wonderful time and a very memorable experience.
Cadets Participated (Group Picture Order): Elijah Vaught, Shetarra Prickett, Eva Jackson, Lydia Walker, Jacob Lamb, Eric Jackson, Gabriel Tackett, Kensie Sheffield, Shawna Mink, Benton Kuntz, Aleya Powell, Amber Doan, Walker Lay, Zach Robinson, Tyler Wood, Larry Vanwinkle, Jake Neely, Clare Beichler, Cody Morris, Hunter Medley, Cager Doan, Chanler Cole, David Peavie, and Hannah Cloepfil-Johnston.
Cadets on Shuttle Bus: Zach Poyle and Eli Price
A group of cadets participated in a community service event at the Civil War Reenactment during the weekend of October 20-22, 2017. Henry Smith, the Operations Officer from the Laurel Home Guard, has said on numerous occasions that, without help from the Rocket Battalion JROTC it would be hard to host Camp Wildcat to the public. Each cadet had a job and contributed differently during this event.
The group of cadets sectioned off into four separate groups: Disabled parking, Donations, Regular parking, and Trash detail. The donations group greeted guest at the entrance and received more than $1,800.00 for the Laurel Home Guard, while traffic went on smoothly thanks to the supervision of the cadets. The environment was also made to stay clean thanks to the trash detail.
While attending Wildcat Mountain, the cadets got to enjoy themselves by camping and doing recreational activities such as dancing in the barn Saturday night. Cadets cooked the Camp Wildcat Reenactors a breakfast of: biscuits, gravy, scrambled eggs, tenderloin and or sausage and a dessert of fried apples. The following cadets will be awarded the JROTC Commendation Ribbon (N-3-7) for outstanding performance of assigned duties; Hannah Cloepfil, Shawna Mink, David Peavie and Shetarra Prickett.
The Rocket Battalion would like to thank the Laurel Home Guard Staff for giving us such a great opportunity in gaining community service and allowing us to camp. The cadets had a wonderful time and a very memorable experience.
Cadets Participated (Group Picture Order): Elijah Vaught, Shetarra Prickett, Eva Jackson, Lydia Walker, Jacob Lamb, Eric Jackson, Gabriel Tackett, Kensie Sheffield, Shawna Mink, Benton Kuntz, Aleya Powell, Amber Doan, Walker Lay, Zach Robinson, Tyler Wood, Larry Vanwinkle, Jake Neely, Clare Beichler, Cody Morris, Hunter Medley, Cager Doan, Chanler Cole, David Peavie, and Hannah Cloepfil-Johnston.
Cadets on Shuttle Bus: Zach Poyle and Eli Price