For the second consecutive year, 18 Junior ROTC cadets from Sam Rayburn High School conducted their JROTC Leadership Camp at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville.

The event was hosted in large part by Lt. Col. Rick King, head of the SHSU Military Science Department and the Bearkat Battalion.

Several days were spent at Gibbs Ranch bivouacking and using the ROTC facilities to participate in the obstacle and leaders’ reaction course, as well as to conduct land navigation and practice basic leadership, said retired Lt. Col. Alan Mooneyham, Sam Rayburn’s JROTC instructor and former head of SHSU’s Military Science Department.

The JROTC cadets also had an opportunity to spend some time on campus during freshman orientation and at the visitor center and the Health and Kinesiology Center.

Mooneyham said the 18 JROTC cadets were selected from the Rayburn JROTC program of over 250 other cadets.

“They are the best of the best,” he said. “They have all successfully passed TAKS (the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test), have a good grade point average, are members of at least one high school organization or team, have met high physical fitness standards and hold leadership positions within JROTC.”

Mooneyham and King said this event is a win-win opportunity for both SHSU and Sam Rayburn.   “The leadership camp teaches basic leadership and self-discipline, while conducting it on a great university campus like Sam exposes high school students to an achievable alternative after high school,” Mooneyham said.

In addition, King awarded each of the cadets with their camp completion certificates, recognized six for earning the RECONDO badge, and extended an invitation to SRHS again next summer.