The Michigan City High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) competed in the Hobart High School Army JROTC Raider Competition on Saturday, November 8th. 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 third in the tire obstacle event.
Master Sergeant Jeff Benak, the 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.
Second Lieutenant Cody Joseph, the senior cadet on the team, praised the teamwork demonstrated by his peers. “It really was an all-for-one and one-for-all type effort today, as it was really cold. We do not have any super athletes on our team, but every cadet did everything he or she could to help their fellow cadet.”
Major Tom McGrath, the Senior Marine Instructor, also noted the team’s commitment to each other and the JROTC program. “Today, we were also supporting the MCHS parent club’s Craft Fair at the high school and marching in the Michigan City Veterans parade. To fulfill all of these commitments simultaneously takes much teamwork from all of our cadets.”
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 22d from 8:30 am to 4:00 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.