Stratford Junior Takes Top Honor at Cadet Camp

Stratford High School JROTC cadet Kyri Cortte, a junior, was recognized as the top cadet this summer at Fort Jackson's Junior Cadet Leadership Challenge.

Throughout the week, students are graded on leadership, teamwork and knowledge. Instructors select 10 Honor Cadets from each of the four companies to appear before a Company Board.

The top cadet from each company then appears before a Battalion Board where the cadets are interviewed and must perform certain drill and ceremony movements.

These company leaders are graded on confidence, leadership and appearance, among other requirements. The three runners-up were awarded Battalion positions and named Superior Cadets.

Cortte was selected as this year's top JCLC cadet and named the Battalion Commander with a rank of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel, as well as the title of Distinguished Superior Cadet.

"Her success at this very demanding summer camp is an inspiration to us all," said Lt. Col. Tripp Blanton, senior Army instructor at the Stratford High JROTC.

Other Honor Cadets from Stratford's JROTC program included senior Jordan Blanton and juniors Mindaugus Anderson, Austin Anderson and Michael Patterson.

The week also included several competitions. Stratford Senior Donald Couch took first place and junior Ross Jordan took second in the Ironman competition, where cadets compete in push-ups, curl-ups and running. Juniors Brian Wooten and Austin Anderson won a land navigation challenge, where teams raced to find points marked in the woods. Wooten also had the top score in a biathlon shooting contest, where cadets fired shots from pellet rifle in a timed challenge and were graded on accuracy.

"This is a real testament to the high quality of our JROTC cadets at Stratford," Blanton said. "They all want to be part of a winning team."