JROTC program gears up for Raider competition
· Yahoo Sports
OTTUMWA — The Ottumwa Community School District's JROTC program is thriving, with enough members this year to potentially compete in the Raider competition next month.
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Retired chief warrant officers Brian Brooks and Shelly Brooks, with a combined 75 years of military service in the U.S. Army, discussed the state of the program during Monday's board of education meeting at Career Campus.
Currently, the program has 18 cadets, including eight female cadets, Shelly Brooks said. The goal is to take at least 10 to the competition.
"Our Raiders team is a competition team, and it's a physically demanding team," Shelly Brooks said. "So we're super excited for the females to get out there and start competing with our males.
"Right now we have five females that want to go and compete with our mixed team, and with this, we're able to build up not only their physical fitness and endurance, but we're also working on their mental agility and how they can build up their resilience."
Brian Brooks began with the district at the start of last year, and Shelly Brooks joined the district in February.
The process to compete in the Raiders competition, which is Oct. 2-3 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, is rigorous. Brian Brooks said there will be a couple different tests run before competing.
"They have to be able to carry 80 pounds, 40 pounds in each hand," he said. "In each hand is a water bucket they'll carry for 25 meters. Another is what we call the sprint-drag-carry. That's an event where they spring, they drag a 90-pound sled."
The program received funding through the U.S. Army, which will include the bus ride and possible meals.
"They've paid for the bus transportation and back. They've paid for all the meals while they were there at Camp Dodge. It's on the Army dime, so that does help the program tremendously," Brian Brooks said.
(This story will be updated)