Each year, Raider Challenge is one of the final events for the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). The event brings out many Second Bridge High School Junior ROTC units to compete in different events around Shippensburg University’s campus.
For the collegiate cadets, the event is a great test of leadership. One cadet described the first year he participated in Raider Challenge; he merely partook in the events, but now as a Cadet, his experience has shifted from passive participation to active organizer and project spearhead.
The goal is to improve recruitment and retention by introducing Junior ROTC cadets to the collegiate level program. By participating, Junior ROTC (JROTC) cadets get the opportunity to develop relationships and share knowledge with Army ROTC students at SU.
Raider Challenge is comprised of a diverse group of events. High school cadets get to show off their skills in the Army physical fitness test, on a rope bridge, in land navigation, in first aid and in a 3K run. They also participate in a physical training test which is comprised of a two-mile run followed by two minutes of pushups and sit-ups.
The challenge is designed to push cadets physically and mentally — especially the rope bridge.
The rope bridge event is a timed activity that tests cadets’ ability to set up a rope bridge over a body of water and to consecutively traverse over the water. Teams must work in coordination to tie knots around trees, pull the ropes taut, and traverse the rope by means of a carabineer.
Land navigation will require the most precision. Cadets will be given a compass and told to find specific locations around campus.
The first aid event tests cadets’ knowledge on various first aid procedures such as splinting a fracture, stopping blood loss, evaluating casualties and performing CPR.
The final event is the 3K. The run intentionally caps the day’s events because, by the end of the day, Junior ROTC cadets are expected to be fatigued, making it a test of mental strength more than physical strength. JROTC teams have to stay together as a unit in order to complete the course.
Raider Challenge is a great event for both JROTC cadets and collegiate cadets. High school students get to take a peek behind the curtain at the next step of their career, should they choose to pursue their interests in the military. Collegiate cadets, on the other hand, get the opportunity not only to test their leadership skills in planning and executing an event, but to leave a positive impact on ROTC prospectives.
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