Veterans

Syracuse University Army ROTC Hosts Junior ROTC Fitness Challenge

Monday, February 19, 2018, By News Staff

The University’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program hosted over 70 Junior ROTC members at the Carrier Dome on Feb. 13 during the Junior ROTC Fitness Challenge, to support physical fitness and to widen JROTC members’ exposure to future educational opportunities.

The Junior ROTC cadets, along with cadre and local recruiters, represented programs from across upstate New York, including: Mexico Academy & Central District Marine Corps JROTC, Proctor Naval JROTC in Utica, Western Maritime Buffalo Naval JROTC and Carthage Army JROTC near the Fort Drum area.

The event began with Syracuse University admissions speaking to the Junior ROTC cadets about different education opportunities beyond high school through the ROTC program, including scholarship opportunities and support the university provides to ROTC members. The admissions representatives were able to answer personal questions and highlighted the university’s commitment to support the ROTC program, the longest, consecutive-running program in the country.

Junior cadets were then challenged to show their physical fitness in a race around the Dome. The high schoolers completed push-ups and crunches before running up stairs to the top of the Dome to scale the bleachers, ending with a dead-man carry with a 105-pound dummy that they ran across the Syracuse-embossed turf.

Throughout the fitness challenge, SU Army ROTC cadets highlighted their leadership abilities learned throughout the ROTC program as they guided and encouraged teams of junior cadets to finish the competition strong.

Lt. Col. Jason Warner ended the ceremony by awarding the first-, second- and third-place teams and their respective Army ROTC leaders, but this was not the last award of the night. Junior cadets who showed admirable qualities that matched the values of the SU ROTC program, such as leadership, strength, teamwork and a commitment to serve, were given a Syracuse University coin.

The SU Army ROTC college leadership program educates and trains Cadets on Army officership, Army values, standards and operations, while providing mentorship and scholarship to enhance college education. This event encompassed Syracuse University’s commitment to those who serve by providing experience and resources to future Army ROTC members.