South Gwinnett JROTC to Compete in National Raider Championships

South Gwinnett High's JROTC is heading to the 2013 U.S. Army National Raider Championship in November. 

The Snellville school's two Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps teams, one for the boys and one for the girls, will be competing against more than 80 teams at Gerald Lawhorn Boy Scout Camp in Molena, Ga. With teams coming from New York to Kansas and more, South Gwinnett is the only school representing Gwinnett County.

Every year, more than 2,000 parents, instructors and cadets take part in raider challenges, which consists of individual strength and group obstacle courses. The tests will cover a rescue and first aid mission, a rope bridge construction and transport, personal fitness such as push-ups and a tire drag, and more.

South Gwinnett's JROTC instructor and raider coach Sergeant First Class Christopher Diaz, along with senior army instructor Lt. Col. Nathaniel Flegler, have been prepping their teams for the big weekend. 

"Our raider teams have competed in three raider competitions at Osborne High School, Cedar Shoals High School and Spalding High School in preparation for the National Raider Meet," said Diaz. "The raider team, being only three years old, has won 11 trophies with our male and female teams collectively this year."

The 2013 U.S. Army National Raider Championships will be held Nov. 2-3 at the Gerald Lawhorn Boy Scout Camp in Molena, Ga. Click here for more information.