Clarke Central High School JROTC cadets climb a wall outside the JROTC building during the Raider obstacle course challenge on Sept. 25. In a typical Raider competition, 10-12 JROTC cadets race to complete an obstacle course before other teams, but during the Best Raiders competition teams of two JROTC cadets race. “You might have two guys who are very competitive, who were a part of the male team, and (want) to partner up for Best Raiders. You might have a (male) cadet (whose) best buddy might have been on a female team, and (they) partner up and do the co-ed team,” Army Instructor First Sergeant Antione Clark said. “We don’t dictate who’s going to be on the team. We give them that leeway to choose their partner.” Photo by Maya Clement
CCHS JROTC cadets will participate in the two-person Best Raiders competition on April 23.
During a Raider competition, teams of 10-12 JROTC cadets compete to be the first over obstacles and across finish lines. In the Best Raiders competition, cadets must accomplish this with two people.
Best Raiders is a JROTC competition for schools around Georgia, which will be held at Clarke Central High School on April 23. Cadets will race to be the fastest in events modified to accommodate the smaller teams, such as a tire flip, obstacle course and footrace.
“We added slats on the 10-foot wall, which allowed the individual Raiders to negotiate the wall by themselves, but (it) still can be a challenge to those who might be vertically challenged,” Army Instructor First Sergeant Antione Clark said. “(Cadets) have to strategize and figure out who is going to help the other one get over the wall and also be able to get over the wall (themself) without any help.”
Clark brought the event to CCHS from Cedar Shoals High School, where it was originally created for seniors.
“Best Raiders is typically conducted in the springtime, close to graduation,” Clark said. “Originally, it was created to give graduating seniors an opportunity to do a last Raiders event with a buddy (instead of) a whole team. It was an opportunity for them to get their last little hurrah before they graduate. (Then,) a few instructors got together and said ‘Why not open it up to all classes?’”
“Originally, (Best Raiders) was created to give graduating seniors an opportunity to do a last Raiders event with a buddy (instead of) a whole team. It was an opportunity for them to get their last little hurrah before they graduate.”
— First Sergeant Antione Clark,
CCHS Army Instructor
Battalion Commander Zaili Gantt, a senior, will compete in Best Raiders despite being unable to participate in the regular season, which occurs in the fall.
“For me, (I) haven’t done Raiders our past four years, since (I’ve) had conflicting sports,” Gantt said. “I really did want to do regular Raiders, but it was such a conflict, I just couldn’t. (I want to) give myself a chance to experience something that I haven’t been able to experience while being in JROTC.”
