Before the beginning of the school year, a handful of students in the JROTC program have been physically training for an annual competition known as the Raider Challenge.

The competition is grueling with many challenges and if not prepared, it can lead to injuries with the rough and steep terrain at competition. Fortunately, the bison team avoided physical pain this year.

Omaha South and Buena Vista are the only schools from Nebraska to compete in the national competition. The two schools worked together to train and prepare for the intense competitions. This may seem intimidating to have all the responsibility on our shoulders, but it did not phase Major Nguyen, Senior JROTC Instructor.

“We were proud and motivated to be another school in the state to have a raider team,” Major Nguyen shared.

“It didn’t scare me,” Will Bryan, Raider Commander, explained. “It made me feel like some of these schools are a bit unmotivated. I want to be an inspiration to other schools to compete as we were able to do it, and we’ve only been open for two years.”

The Raider Challenge consists of five grueling team challenges: 5K Team Run, Rope Bridge, Cross Country Rescue, The Gauntlet, and Physical Fitness Team Test. Teamwork was evident with each student as competed against other schools. Through blood, sweat, and tears, our team worked together to compete against 100+ schools nationwide.

“The hardest part of the competition was carrying Will over the wall during the search and rescue,” Oscar Pena remembered.

This challenging task was a part of the Cross Country Rescue competition that also included carrying 50 lb. mattresses, 40 lb. backpack, and trudging through deep mud pits.

With any competitions, the JROTC cadets already have a plan to improve for next year, and Major Nguyen is ready to show the other team how tough the Bison really are.

“For the competition, I would like to be able to walk through the courses to observe the team rather than just see them run off and see them come back,” Major Nguyen explained. “As for preparing before the competition, I would like to have more training resources i.e. 12 ft. wall, tires to train with.”

After the competition spirits were high as photos can be seen of the team bonding through Karaoke, having an absolute blast bringing the team closer with one another.

“I am so proud of the students and very hopeful that the team will increase in number,” Major Nguyen concluded.