CHS NJROTC raising funds for national competition

Carson High School’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (NJROTC) Raider Team is raising funds to send 14 students to a national competition Nov. 1-5 in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

The team is being co-sponsored by the Carson City Sheriff’s Supervisory Association and Deputy Sheriff’s Association in the 2023 U.S. Army Cadet Command Junior ROTC Raider Challenge National Competition. Carson High was the only Naval JROTC invited to attend a predominantly Army competition, according to CHS Senior Chief Jerry Skirvin.

“The Army Raider competition is a five- or six-event competition, and it’s pretty physically and mentally demanding on the cadets,” Skirvin said. “One of the events is a 5k team run. One of the other events is a simulated cross country rescue.”

During the rescue, students carry their own backpacks and materials and run through the woods carrying a stretcher facing obstacles simulating a rescue or carrying a casualty to a medic. Other events include a gauntlet and a physical fitness team test where some have tire flips where half a team flips down one side of a tire and the other half flips tires the other way, Skirvin said.

Carson will join other schools from Washoe County. Skirvin said this is only the second year Carson High is sending cadets to actually participate in a Raider competition. Previously, they’ve watched and were motivated to work in the various events and said there has been a learning curve for the cadets and the instructors with some of the technical aspects.

“They’re really looking forward to it,” Skirvin said. “They started with summer work. We went three years and everybody watched and said, ‘Yes, we really want to do this.’ … Thank goodness for YouTube and the instructors at Galena and Spanish Springs (high schools) making sure we have the right equipment. They held a clinic making sure we had the kids have been working hard and getting physically and mentally ready.”

Cadets often were running up to 6 miles a day, jumping through suspended tires and carrying suspended stretchers in preparation, he said, which requires coordination. All of this is in addition to their academics.

On Saturday, the team took first place at its Spanish Springs meet, Skirvin announced. With this win, it also took the overall season title for Northern Nevada Raider Team (mixed division).

While the CCSA and CCDSA are contributing to the trip, the team still needs assistance. The U.S. Army will provide lodging and ground transportation for JROTC units, so funds are being raised to cover airfaire and food. It will cost approximately $700 per student, Skirvin said. Any funds received will be divided evenly among the participants.

"The kids will be super appreciative about anything and everything they can get for the support," he said.

Skirvin is serving his fifth year at Carson High School as a naval science officer.

For information about donating to the team, contact Skirvin at jskirvin@carson.k12.nv.us or 775-283-1781.

Carson High School's NJROTC Raider Team took first place Saturday at the Spanish Springs High School meet. With this win, it also won the overall season title for the Northern Nevada Raider Team (Mixed Division). Courtesy