Newsome Best Raiders (Mallory Hirn, Pierce Gannon, Kayla Lucas, Cody Caskey)
February was an outstanding month for the Newsome Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) Wolfpack Battalion. The Cadets have been extremely busy participating in numerous team competitions, finishing up their company led Service Learning Projects and conducting their Military Ball.
The Battalion’s six special teams continue to practice, compete, and bring home trophies. The Raider Team sent four of it’s best (Mallory Hirn, Kayla Lucas, Cody Caskey & Pierce Gannon) to compete in the “Best Raider” competition held in Myakka, Florida. After a day of grueling competition, the female team placed 8th overall and the male team placed 11th – way to go Raiders. After a score review, it was determined our newly established Cyber Patriot Team placed 1st at “States” and placed in the “Top Ten” during Regional competition.
1st Place Individual Armed Exhibition (Raymond LeDuc)
The JROTC Leadership & Academic Bowl (JLAB) Team competed in Phase 2 competition with the Academic Team placing 3rd Overall, just two points from sending them to Washington DC for National Level competition. The Drill and Color Guard Teams competed at Zephyrhills High School on 25 February 2017 placing 2nd Overall in Platoon, unarmed Regulation Drill (commanded by Cadet Captian Ryan Stevens); 5th (Cadet Captain Dylan Renfro) and 1 st (Cadet Sergeant Major Justin Perez) in the Individual Drill Knockout; and Cadet Captain Raymond LeDuc took 1st Overall with an impressive performance in the Individual Armed Exhibition category. The Drill and Color Guard Teams competed at Districts on Saturday, 04 March 2017 hoping to earn a spot at “States” on 01 April 2017.
The Rifle Team recently competed at Brandon High School placing 2nd overall and retain their six year undefeated streak at the County level. The Rifle Team will compete at “Districts” on 25 March 2017 with an eye on “States” 22 April 2017. The five Wolfpack Companies are winding up their Service Learning Projects and will have provided over 10,000 Community Service / Volunteer hours this year – a new Battalion record. Over one hundred Cadets and their guests participated in the Battalion’s 12th Annual Military Ball at the FishHawk Ranch Palmetto Club where they spent the night reveling in military tradition, laughing, dancing, and honoring our departing seniors. On 22 February 2017, twenty one Cadets were inducted into the Newsome Chapter of the National Technical Honor Society.
Hillsborough County Army Cadet of the Year (Mallory Hirn)
As college and scholarship acceptance letters continue to pour in, we would like to congratulate Cadet Captain Alex Stevens and Cadet Sergeant Major Justin Perez for being awarded Three Year Army ROTC Scholarships. We would also like to congratulate Cadet Captains Mallory Hirn & Dylan Renfro, Cadets First Lieutenants Lauren Lewis & Kristina Flynn, and Cadet Sergeant Major Emma Custis on their selection to attend the Florida Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) in Tallahassee, Florida 10 – 13 May 2017. And finally, we want to congratulate Cadet Captain Mallory Hirn for earning the title of Hillsborough County Army JROTC Cadet of the Year. Mallory will be competing against other Service Cadet of the Year winners hoping to be designated the overall Hillsborough County Cadet of the Year (multi-service).
For more information on upcoming and/or current events within the Wolfpack Battalion go to http://www.newsomejrotc.com/ or click on the JROTC link under the Programs tab on the Newsome High School homepage.
