On Saturday, Sept. 29, the Bogalusa High School Jr. ROTC Raider Platoon won first place at the Fontainebleau High School Raider Challenge, held at Camp Villere in Slidell.

Now having back-to-back event wins, this victory maintains the Raiders’ grasp of first place in the U.S. Army Northshore Raider District standings. The U.S. Army Northshore 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 and the Raider Fitness Test and placed second in the Obstacle Course, Team Run and Cross-Country Rescue, 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 two more competitions remaining, culminating with the Louisiana Raider State Championship to be held on Oct. 20 at the Gillis Long Center in Carville.

The Lumberjack Raiders are defending district champions for the past two years and defending state champions.