Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Lerone Simmons | Cadets of the Lady Lions Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) Battalion,...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE MAGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - Two years ago, in an attempt to get out of gym class, Jimalet Liraonzo signed up for the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) at Patterson Charter School for Science and Technology, in Patterson, N.J.
On May 11, 2013, Capt. Liranzo and her Lady Lions ran the gauntlet at Joint Base Maguire-Dix-Lakehurst, pushing their physical and mental abilities in the annual 2nd Brigade JROTC Raider Challenge Competition.
The competition promotes; teamwork, self-confidence, and leadership, while consisting of physically and mentally challenging activities.
“They were placing bets at school, saying that we weren’t even going to finish the competition,” said Liranzo, a Passaic native.
After all, the Lady Lion’s team was the first-ever female team from the Patterson Charter School to compete in the Raider Challenge.
But after practicing five days a week for at least two hours on soldier tasks and physical fitness, the Lady Lions Raider Team placed third overall in the annual competition.
According to Lt. Col. Mike Hodges, senior Army instructor for the JROTC Lion Battalion, the cadets under his leadership face numerous challenges. Hodges said most of the American population is not aware of the problems that the inner city faces: low-income families, first generation immigrants and other hardships, all while having an expectation to be successful.
“Pain is relative,” he said. “We try to strengthen their mental toughness by challenging them with physical activities like this.”
The day was long, tedious and challenging.
Teams were tested on individual physical fitness using the Army Physical Fitness Test, a three-kilometer team run and numerous tactical obstacles including a one-rope-bridge and one-mile run with rucksacks stuffed with 25 pounds.
These challenges, Hodges said, “expose students to the different world – the military – and removes them, temporarily from their everyday location.”
“JROTC is important to the military, but is much more important to the nation,” he said, “because we are teaching these kids on how to be better citizens,”.
“Essentially we organize them, give them instructions on being in the right place at the right time, while wearing the right uniform,” he said.
For Liranzo, who hopes to attend Seton Hall University and become a labor and delivery nurse, the program has provided her a sense of accomplishment, and success, and instilled pride in teamwork.
“I have to motivate them,” she said. “They’re my family.”
Her teammates see her as a rock, the leader and motivator.
“She was my inspiration,” said Private 1st Class Niashonda Brimley, of Patterson.
Liranzo put it more bluntly.
“If I give up, then they are going to give up, and I’m a sore loser,” she said.
At the end of the day, Patterson’s Lady Lions took home five trophies and their co-ed team won another, which is cause for celebration.
“There is going to be an interesting assembly on Monday morning,” said Hodges.
| Date Taken: | 05.11.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.15.2013 11:38 |
| Story ID: | 106943 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 192 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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