JROTC cadets tend to seek a challenge to their skills. Some test their intellectual might at the Scholar’s Bowl. Drill teams go head to head in competitions to see who can march the best with precision. Cadet Air Rifle teams battle for a moving trophy that proves their superior marksmanship. Corps-wide events include the quest for Distinguished Unit, a title that is prestigious among those in JROTC. AL-935 is a competition-oriented unit, and their latest venture involves the Army Ranger event.

Three 8-cadet teams of AL-935’s athletes competed in the challenging Army Ranger course. This year is was renamed “Argonaut Challenge”. Twenty teams from more than 10 high schools in the two-state area participated in the event. AL-935 was the only team from Baldwin County at this event. It was sponsored by the US Army Senior ROTC unit at the University of West Florida. The Army recruiters there also spoke to the participating cadets during breaks in the competition. The Argonaut Challenge events were based on actual Army Ranger courses. AL-935’s cadets reported a plethora of challenging activities in the race from a Hummer pull, to carrying ammunition cans over an obstacle course, to a two-mile team run, sit-ups and a large tire event in which cadets had to take turn turning over a large tractor tire over a pre-set distance. Cadets were given a challenge worthy of the US military. Of the 20 teams, AL-935 did not place first, but the Corps’ cadets gave it their all. Perhaps next year Daphne’s AL-935 can take home the gold from the Army Ranger competition. Until then, they’ll keep working on improvements to make.