The La Porte High School JROTC Bulldog Battalion attended Camp Challenge 2011 at Hargrave High School the week of June 13.
Fourteen cadets participated in the week-long camp which tested their leadership skills and endurance to their limits.
According to Captain Tony Hernandez, a typical day at the camp begins at 4:45 a.m. and ends 10p.m. The day starts with physical training (PT) for an hour and ends after 15 hours of rigorous training.
“Our students enjoyed the challenge of learning how to ride a zip line, rappelling, crossing a stream using a rope, and working as members of a team,” Hernandez said. “We are proud of all 14 cadets who graduated last week, but two excelled above their peers."
Sophomore students Kendall Parsons and Cody Kickertz earned the prestigious recondo badge by passing all phases of training (land navigation, water survival training, first aid, road march and rappelling) with a perfect score.
Hernandez explained that “fewer than 2 percent of the program participants have earned the recondo badge, and Kendall is the only female cadet in the history of the Bulldog Battalion to earn this prestigious badge." Kendall was also the only female cadet from seven schools to earn the badge.
In addition to Kendall and Cody's flawless performance at camp, the following cadets performed extremely well and worked hard to ensure the battalion was ready to attend training: Cassandra Hubbell (camp staff), Austin Jean (great job on all phases of training), Dakota Brown and Zach Johnson (assistant instructors), and Sam Holbert (supply officer). The following cadets completed camp with flying colors: Jackie Cruz, John Pounders, Michael Gomeztagle, Jesus Diaz, Nick Calvert, Caleb Waller and Johnnie Peveto. |
