M|A|R

For many youths, summer camp might mean canoeing and swimming, archery, arts and crafts and fireside storytelling.

But for 200 students from across the Rio Grande Valley, this summer it meant a week of testing their stamina, confidence and leadership capabilities.

These were JROTC students attending the Junior Cadet Leadership Challenge summer camp hosted by Marine Military Academy this past week.

The students were from 20 schools ranging from ninth to 11th grade.

The program founded in 1999 brings together Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from across the Valley for a five- to seven-day camp.

“The cadets get basic military skills as well as team and leadership skills from this camp,” La Grulla High School Commanding Army JROTC Instructor Richard Klem said.

The camp is funded by the U.S. Army.

“They learn the main Army values,” said Capt. Raul Munguia, senior Army JROTC instructor from McAllen High School. “It’s one of the best JROTC camps in the state.”

The summer camp includes an obstacle course with various challenges as well as training. The obstacle course is intended to build trust and confidence among the cadets as well as to test their endurance.

MMA’s obstacle course includes a zip line, “a high ropes course” and “power pole,” which involves climbing a 20-foot pole similar to a telephone pole.

“My favorite event is the mud pit,” Harlingen Junior Cadet Lucia Arellano said.

“It’s the dirtiest one and the most fun.”

For Arellano, this was a return to the summer camp. “This is my second year here; this is what I like doing,” she said.

“I will take these things that I have learned back to my school and teach to my fellow cadets,” she said.

Arellano plans to join the National Guard after graduating from Harlingen High School.

“I joined to develop my confidence speaking and this motivates me to stay out of trouble,” said Junior Cadet Andres Martinez from Mercedes High School.

“It teaches us everything we need to know and it’s cool here,” Martinez said.

“I get the experience of being a leader.”

http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/local_news/article_8e50ec90-d17f-11e2-9403-0019bb30f31a.html