By Tess Malijenovsy
Battery Creek High School’s JROTC won, scoring more points than any other high school, in the inaugural districtwide JROTC competition. Supported by the U.S. Marie Corps, Battery Creek’s JROTC unit was awarded the silver Superintendent’s Cup trophy for a second year in a row. Beaufort High’s unit (supported by the U.S. Air Force) was second runner-up after Hilton Head High.
<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/JROTC-1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6028" title="JROTC 1" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/JROTC-1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>“The other schools came at us hard, and my cadets had to reach down deep,” said Lt. Col. Ray Ganas, senior Marine instructor at Battery Creek. “But they’ve got a lot of heart, and they proved that today.  I’m very proud of them.”
The day brought all of the school district’s JROTC programs together at Hilton Head High School for tests of academics, skill, endurance and precision. Cadets took academic tests, ran foot races, competed in sit-up, chin-up, push-up and running contests, marched their color guards and performed platoon drills.
“Every resident of Beaufort County should be proud of these outstanding JROTC students and the effort they put into this,” School Superintendent Valerie Truesdale said.