The Michigan City High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) competed in and earned awards in the Hobart High School Army JROTC Raider Competition. Seven schools from Michigan and Indiana participated in the event. Michigan City was the only Marine school to compete. Eight different events comprised the competition: push-ups and sit-ups, rope bridge negotiation, stretcher carry, orienteering, tire obstacle, a general military subjects knowledge test, and a 2.5 mile run. Michigan City finished second in the knowledge test and third in the tire obstacle event.
Major Tom McGrath, the Senior Marine Instructor, was proud of the effort the team of 7 males and 3 females put forth. “This was a very demanding day for these dedicated cadets. Most of the team members are also on our drill team, which practices at 5:45 every morning. They then attended physical training team practice after school. It is a very long day for them, and they then go home and do homework, as they are all C-plus or above students, including two straight-A cadets.”
Second Lieutenant Cody Joseph, the senior cadet on the team, praised the teamwork demonstrated by his peers. “It sounds corny, but today it really was all for one and one for all. We do not have any super athletes on our team, but every cadet did everything he or she could to help their fellow cadet.”
Lieutenant Colonel Scott Buchmann, the Senior Instructor at Hobart who organized and conducted the competition, also was impressed with the Michigan City cadets. “It was a thing of beauty to watch those cadets running with a stretcher, singing cadence, and looking like they were loving doing that tough event. That motivation is what the JROTC is all about." Other Army instructors commented on the outstanding sportsmanship and the classy way the Michigan City cadets conducted themselves.
The next competition in which the Michigan City cadets will participate is their own military skills event to be held at Elston Middle School on November 23rd from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Military drill, marksmanship, physical fitness, academics and uniform inspection will be the events at this competition. It is sponsored by the local chapter of the Marine Corps League. 10 schools from Indiana and Illinois will compete. It is open to the public. Admission is free.