JROTC cadets take part in Autumn Leadership Weekend
During the weekend of Oct. 11 and 12, 60 Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps cadets from Cape Henlopen High School and Sussex Central High School converged at the Delaware National Guard Training Center at Bethany Beach for their Autumn Leadership Weekend.
The purpose of the Leadership Weekend was to develop teamwork among the cadets and problem solving for those cadets in leadership and training positions. For the first time in many years, the stormy weather conditions tested the mettle of the cadets and the flexibility of the cadet leaders.
Throughout the weekend, the cadets had to set up their barracks for an inspection on Friday evening, followed on Saturday by a full day of leadership training activities. This began with a physical fitness test before breakfast followed by a series of leadership and team-building exercises during the course of the day. The weekend concluded with a drill competition and an awards ceremony.
Overall supervision of the Leadership Weekend was done by the JROTC faculty staffs augmented by a Cadet Training Cadre of 10 senior and junior cadets from the high schools. The Cadet Cadre was led by Cadet Lt. Col. Cody Ross and Cadet Master Sgt. Alex Dominick from Cape Henlopen High School, and Cadet Maj. Ardany Coloma from Sussex Central High School.
Ross, as the cadet camp commandant, was responsible for the management, organization, and conduct of all cadet training activities on Friday and Saturday. These events included the barracks inspection, a physical training test, one-rope bridge crossing, obstacle courses, land navigation, stretcher carry, tug-o-war, and platoon drill competitions.
The Leadership Camp concluded with an awards ceremony Saturday afternoon. During the ceremony, Cadet Ryan Orange of Sussex Central received the Distinguished Cadet Award; Gabrielle Primeaux of Cape received the Honor Cadet Award; Cadet Zach Harris earned the Best Individual Award; Cadet Joshua Betts of Cape won the Best Platoon Leader Award; and Cadets Dominique Tusso and Abdias Girardi of Cape received Physical Fitness Awards. Cadet Alex Dominick of Cape was awarded the Most Outstanding Cadet Cadre Medal.
