The JROTC Raiders team, led by Sergeant Major Marcus Fisher, is the competitive extension of Midtown’s JROTC program, focusing on teamwork and physical abilities.

Any JROTC cadets are allowed to join and attend Raiders practice, but when competing at meets, it is highly selective as there are about ten spots per team with a few substitutions. 

“[The] Raiders is comprised of JROTC cadets that form a team in order to negotiate obstacles and compete in multiple challenges,” Fisher said. “It’s a big time mental test, but also a test of physical endurance, teamwork, problem solving and adaptability skills,”

Senior Logan Hicks serves as the head cadet for the Raiders team with leadership and discipline.

“Being the head cadet of our raiders team means setting myself as the standard,” Hicks said. “Our coach’s job is to provide supervision and advice to the captains, so the cadets always have their eyes on me. Being the head cadet means being disciplined and staying calm under stressful situations.”

Hicks said serving as head cadet of the Raiders team comes with many responsibilities and standards to uphold. 

“Since JROTC is a student-led program, some of my responsibilities as the head cadet consist of being an assistant coach to the cadet, enforcing discipline and keeping our athletes on track, teaching key techniques for events like the rope bridge and motivating our cadets and keeping morale up in the group,” Hicks said. 

Sophomore Cadet Sergeant Delbert Holloman believes he has gained valuable skills and insights from his fellow cadets and through being on the raiders team.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that leadership is about serving others,” Holloman said. “My sergeants always remind us that being in charge doesn’t mean bossing people around; it means setting the example and putting the team first. They’ve also drilled into us the importance of discipline, like being on time and giving full effort every day.” 

The JROTC raiders team consists of a ranking system that offers roles to each cadet.

“The ranking system in JROTC is kind of like the Army’s, where you start at the bottom and work your way up by showing leadership and commitment,” Holloman said. “You don’t just get promoted because you’ve been around for a while; you have to earn it by stepping up, taking responsibility, and proving you can lead others. For me, getting promoted wasn’t about the title as much as it was about knowing I’d gained the trust of my instructors and my fellow cadets.”

The training sessions for Raiders are tough, but help cadets prepare for upcoming meets, Fisher said. 

“I remind my cadets they don’t have to be here,” Hicks said. “Raiders can be physically tough, but it’s mainly mentally tough, having the higher ups yelling in your ear, having to collaborate with fellow cadets. It all can be a lot especially for somebody who is just starting.”

As head cadet, Hicks said he has an important role to ensure meets run efficiently. 

“My role during raiders meets is to make up the teams for each event because each cadet has their strengths and weaknesses and it’s my job to exploit those strengths for certain events, so if someone is good at running, but not as strong I would probably put them in the run, but maybe not the physical fitness test,” Hicks said.

Raiders meets are common in the program and involve obstacle courses, rope bridge building, team runs, first aid and other teamwork-driven events. 

“I’ve learned a lot from Raiders meets, like building discipline and furthering my teamwork skills with the rest of my cadets,” sophomore cadet Brooklyn Wolf said. “The atmosphere is so exciting, and it’s so much fun when everyone is working together well.”

Holloman said he was interested in joining the Raiders team to challenge himself physically and mentally. His favorite event is the rope bridge.

“It’s one of those challenges where you can’t succeed unless everyone is working together, and the pressure of building it fast and crossing safely gets your adrenaline going, but what makes it stand out is the teamwork,” Holloman said. “You’re trusting your teammates to tie knots right to the pole and move quickly, and they’re trusting you to do the same when it comes to tying your rope. When you finish and realize you pulled it off as a group, it just feels amazing,” 

For many cadets, competing with the Raiders is not just a test of physical endurance, but also one of mental strength and persistence, Holloman said.

“I joined the JROTC Raiders because I wanted to push myself beyond what I could do,” Holloman said. “I’d heard it was tough, and honestly that challenge was what drew me in. I liked the idea of being part of something where you had to rely on your teammates, and they had to rely on you. It wasn’t just about running or doing push-ups. It was about proving to myself that I could handle pressure and grow stronger through it.” 

Holloman believes being on the raiders team requires a growth mindset and positive attitude.

“Be ready to work hard, but also to not be afraid of messing up at first. Everyone struggles when they start. I remember I did almost everyday, and that’s normal. The key is to stay consistent and keep showing up, even when it’s tough,” Holloman said. “Raiders isn’t just about being the fastest or strongest, it’s about being dependable and supporting your team. If you’re willing to put in the effort and stick with it, you’ll grow a lot and probably surprise yourself with what you can do.”

Hicks was inspired by his experience and leadership role in JROTC, and is aiming towards a career in the military. 

“This leadership role has made me want to pursue a career in leading under stressful situations, so one of my main goals is to do ROTC in college and become an infantry officer in the Army,” Hicks said. 

Holloman feels the raiders team has impacted him and his members in many different ways, like allowing him to develop traits and skills he will apply in the future.

“Raiders has made me more disciplined and confident. Before, I’d sometimes give up when things got hard like when it came to running laps or weight lifting but now I’ve learned to push through and keep going,” Holloman said. “It’s also taught me patience, because you can’t always do everything alone. You have to work with others and trust them. I feel stronger mentally and physically, and I carry that into other parts of my life.”