From pushups to navigation and knot tying, over 100 area high school Junior ROTC Cadets got outside their comfort zones and enjoyed Northwestern State Army ROTC’s third annual Demon Challenge on March 13. Army and Air Force Junior ROTC cadets from 6 area high schools spent a fun day competing in a series of events designed to test their fitness, resiliency, and leadership skills. The day started with cadets testing their fitness in a series of timed events such as pushups, sprint, drag, mile run and planking. They then went on to an orienteering course that took them across the NSU campus and a knot tying station. The competition concluded with a 2 mile ruck march with a 25 lb. pack. NCOs from the Natchitoches Army Recruiting Station joined cadets and instructors from Grambling State and ULM in assisting with putting on the Demon Challenge.
The Demon Challenge was a superb opportunity for our area’s young people to test themselves, learn, and grow.
Both Northwestern State University and the university’s Army ROTC program represent a tremendous opportunity for our area’s young people to build a solid future for themselves. The Natchitoches Parish Journal commends all of the high school students who came out, the NSU cadets, college students themselves not much older than the high school students, and the young soldiers, NCOs and officers who helped make the Demon Challenge a well-run and fun event. Our nation’s young people are capable of so much more than they get credit for. The Natchitoches Parish Journal is looking forward to seeing some of those superb young men and women building their future at NSU after they finish high school. Fork ‘em Demons!
