Kofa MCJROTC cadets compete in nat’l event
High school Marines in Kofa’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps are enjoying a successful year.
The Kofa Marine Corps JROTC program earned the Air Rifle Team State Championship for MCJROTC (AZ); the physical fitness team won the state Youth Physical Fitness Championship for in its division and qualified to compete at the national championships at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on May 20.
In addition, the Kofa High School MCJROTC program sent 28 cadets to the Marine Corps Drill National Championships in Irving, Texas, on April 22. Kofa’s cadets finished 13th overall at the competition.
“Major Bell and I are very proud of these cadets and their level of discipline, determination to succeed, and the countless hours they spent dedicated to training before and after school for weeks to compete at this level,” said Sgt. Maj. Colen Laarman (Ret). “Our town of Yuma and the Kofa Kings High School MCJROTC have made themselves known in Texas and at the national level.”
Fifteen schools attended out of 300 in the U.S. and abroad; Kofa MCJROTC finished first in the state of Arizona and first in the Region 4 out of 50 schools.
Individual accomplishments at the competition included:
Cadet 1st Sgt. Isaac Lind — Platoon commander for Armed Drill Team was ranked 7th in the nation for his performance.
Cadet Staff Sgt. Giovanni Charlot — First-year platoon commander for Unarmed Drill Team was ranked 9th in the nation.
Cadet Staff Sgt. Jason Batson — First-year color sergeant was ranked 9th.