JROTC National Raider Challenge | Fall 2026

Fort Knox, Ky. – U.S. Army Cadet Command hosted the JROTC National Raider Challenge bringing approximately 4,000 cadets from across the country to Fort Knox, Oct. 22-25 to test their grit as they attempt to bring home the National Raider Champion title. The JROTC National Raider Challenge was created in 2023 to give raider competitors a centrally located premier competition.

“Raider is really good for leader development,” said Aaron Hinkle from Leavenworth High School, Kansas. “ Raider makes you responsible for other people. It lets you become the person you want to be. I believe that everyone who does Raider will end up becoming a better citizen for our country.”

Throughout the competition cadets negotiated multiple obstacle courses, ran more than five km, tested their practical knowledge learned in JROTC and created a one-rope-bridge for time. These events demanded both physical and mental excellence from these young Americans.

“I think that my team’s commitment sets us apart,” said Cadet Christian Smith from Adairsville High School, Georgia. “We give up mornings, nights and weekends… We want to compete and you have to want ‘it’ if you want to win.”

The competition is divided into three divisions – Challenge, Masters and All-Service. The Challenge Division competed on Friday and is comparable to junior varsity in other high school sports. The Masters Division competed on Saturday and is the equivalent of varsity with teams who have historically excelled at Raider Challenge events. Competing alongside the Master Division were JROTC programs from the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard who were slated in the All-Service Division.

The teams in each subcategory (male, female, mixed) who finished in the top five of the Masters Division and top three in All-Service were selected to compete in the Ultimate Raider event. These 24 teams navigated a 4.2-mile cross country course carrying 102 pounds of equipment through four grueling obstacles. Teams had to dig deep and utilize critical thinking to overcome this undertaking. The results from the Ultimate Raider Challenge are then combined with teams’ overall scores from Saturday’s events to create the final standings for the competition.

“What this competition shows us year after year is that mastery of any challenge is never solitary,” said Brig. Gen. Sean Crockett, commanding general of U.S. Army Cadet Command, while addressing the cadets and their families during his final remarks. “It is fundamentally collective. It is teamwork. You didn’t cross the finish line as individual competitors; you crossed as an unbreakable, singular unit.”

Competition Results Masters Division: Male 1st Place Adairsville High School, Ga. 2nd Place Leavenworth High School, Kan. 3rd Place Benedictine Military School, Ga. Female 1st Place Northeast High School High School, Fla. 2nd Place Leavenworth High School, Kan. 3rd Place Etowah High School USAF Ga. Mixed 1st Place Walker High School USMC, La. 2nd Place Newsome High school, Fla. 3rd Place Georgia Military College Prep School, Ga.

All-Service Division: Males 1st Place Glynn Academy USMC, Ga. 2nd Place Veterans High School USAF, Ga. 3rd Place Corbin High School, Ky. Females 1st Place Veterans High School USAF, Ga. 2nd Place Hendersonville High School USMC, Tenn. 3rd Place Blue Springs South High School USAF, Mo. Mixed 1st Place Jefferson County High School, Tenn. 2nd Place North Shore High School, La. 3rd Place Concordia Lutheran High School, Ind.

Challenge Division: Male 1st Place Spring Hill High School, Tenn. 2nd Place Hanford High School, Wash. 3rd Place North Paulding High School, Ga.

Female 1st Place Live Oaks CDC, Ohio 2nd Place Ridge Community High School, Fla. 3rd Place Cartersville High School, Ga.

Mixed 1st Place Live Oaks CDC, Ohio 2nd Place Sarasota Military Academy, Fla. 3rd Place Station Camp High School, Tenn.