South Dade High Army JROTC Unit Earns Second Place at Large State Competition

Henry Diaz, a cadet major in the South Dade Senior High School Army JROTC program loves participating in the Raiders competitions. He is a leader on the male JROTC team that earned second place at a statewide competition at Hudson High School near Tampa.

The Raider competitions are more strenuous than most varsity sports and offer some real physical challenges. The participants must run a 5K (3.1 miles), complete an obstacle course- a rope bridge where they put on harnesses, and cross a bridge made of rope. This test simulates crossing a river.

Another test is a relay race, with ten member teams, carrying 30 pound kettle bells on each arm for a time. There is also a cross country event, where a team of ten must carry a litter with a 120-pound dummy, to simulate carrying an injured person for two miles.

“We worked hard to prepare for the competition, and we were focused during the competition. It takes discipline and effort to do well in JROTC,” said Diaz. Anthony Cabrera, a command sergeant major loves being a leader in JROTC. “When we were doing the runs, we all just kept pushing and pushing. It was demanding but it was also really a lot of fun,” he said. “We like to work hard together.”

Alex Pena, senior Army instructor for South Dade was very proud of the effort that the cadets have been making this year. “It takes a lot of work to be successful in JROTC,” he said. “Our cadets have put in the work to do well.”