FORT JACKSON, S.C. — As the 2018-2019 school year ended, 18 cadets from the Richmond Senior High School Raider Battalion were selected to attend JROTC Cadet Leadership Camp. The selected cadets attended camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, from June 17-22. Only the best cadets in each high school are allowed to attend. This year approximately 1,600 cadets from both North and South Carolina earned the right to attend this six-day training.
The purpose of JCLC is to provide leadership, adventure, and team-building training. Students wake up around 5:30 a.m. daily and train until lights out at 10 p.m. Canoeing, rappelling, zip-lining and bowling are some of the fun activities that cadets do each day.
“You get an opportunity to confront your fears with the help of others,” said cadet Amiracle Leak.
Leak, a rising senior, was referring to her fear of heights. She credits teamwork and the peer pressure of others watching for forcing cadets to accomplish feats that many would not attempt otherwise.
Cadet Anna Jasper rappels down the incline wall in preparation for the 40-foot tower rappel.
Similar to recruits in basic training, cadets are held to high standards. They must learn to manage the stress associated with inspections and the consequences of failure. Once the lights are turned on each morning, cadets are responsible for conducting personal hygiene, cleaning the barracks and making sure they have all the required gear for training. For some, this is their first extended time from home and they learn how to do more for themselves without assistance from parents.
Three Raider Cadets, including Joe Jasper and Chason Wilson, negotiate the one-rope bridge while learning new challenging skills during JCLC at Fort Jackson.
The Cadet Leadership Evaluation Program is what makes JCLC unique from other regular summer camps. Cadets are responsible for executing the daily duties and responsibilities of all key company leadership roles, from squad leader to company commander.
DaWysonia Morgan, an upcoming junior at RSHS, was a platoon sergeant during JCLC.
“Being a platoon sergeant was tough,” Morgan said. “I had to adjust from just worrying about myself to being responsible for 45 other cadets.”
Morgan said she is thankful for the opportunity and ready to use her new leadership skills next semester.
New this year at JCLC was the addition of a Drone Pilot Certification Company. Richmond Senior’s Mykayla Griffis and Megan Furr were two of about 90 cadets selected to form this company. With an FAA Remote Pilot Certification, cadets can legally fly drones with the intention of making a profit — either by selling video footage, delivering goods and everything in between. Both Raiders passed the certification exam.
“The biggest thing the drone certification course taught me was that I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to,” said Griffis. “I have always heard adults tell me this before but it didn’t have a true meaning until I finished the drone certification course.”
Current Raider Battalion Commander Mykayla Griffis demonstrates her proficiency in flying a drone. She and Cadet Command Sgt. Maj. Megan Furr each were among the 86% who passed FAA certification this week.
As the Richmond County activity bus traveled U.S. 1 north from Fort Jackson, you could hear a pin drop. Cadets were sound asleep, taking advantage of not having anything else to do.
“JCLC was great but exhausting,” said Furr, a rising senior and cadet command sergeant major of Raider Battalion. “After collaborating with some of the best cadets from the Carolinas, we know that Raiders lead the way!”
Cadets Donald White and Chason Wilson develop their canoeing skills while facing some of their fears on one of the recreational lakes at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
