On Saturday, Nov. 4, the Bogalusa High School Jr. ROTC Raider Platoon won first place at the Lumberjack Raider Challenge, held at Bogalusa High School. The victory propelled the Raiders to win their second consecutive U.S. Army Northshore Raider District Championship.

The district consists of Bogalusa, Fontainebleau, Lakeshore, Hammond, Salmen and Northshore High Schools. During last Saturday’s competition, the Lumberjack Raiders placed first in the Rope Bridge, Obstacle Course and Cross-Country Rescue events and placed second in the Team Run and sixth place in the Raider Fitness Test, earning overall first place for the event.

The Raider Platoon is an elite team of Jr. ROTC cadets that volunteer and are selected to participate in a rigorous physical and mental competition called Raider Challenge. Endorsed by the U.S. Army Cadet Command, the Northshore District competitions consist of five outdoor physical events: 5K Team Run, Raider Fitness Test, Obstacle Course, Cross-Country Rescue and One-Rope Bridge.

Raider Challenge educates the cadets on the importance of teamwork (being part of something that is bigger than yourself), physical fitness, mental toughness and overcoming adversity.

The Lumberjack Raiders have one more competition remaining — the Louisiana Raider State Championship held on Nov. 18 at the Gillis Long Center in Carville. Training since August, the Lumberjack Raiders will test their skill against the top Raider teams in the state and hopefully bring home a state championship to Bogalusa.