Training the leaders of tomorrow today

Randomly select eight high school students, or adults for that matter, sit them down under a tree and give them a group task to accomplish. For example, assign the group an independent supporting mission to assist emergency first responders by locating a reported 4 x 4 off-road accident. Mission details require students to evaluate the situation, gather resources, rehearse, conduct a methodical search in a heavily wooded area of 25 or more acres, locate the accident scene, assess and treat casualties, and coordinate an emergency evacuation with emergency officials to primary care facilities.
Most teens would embrace the urgency of the overall task and would try to do the right thing. However, time constraints and well-intended peers would inevitably clash with competing ideas to overwhelm most groups who have not learned or practiced leadership fundamentals. Teens and even adults have to first demonstrate followership, recognizing that too many good ideas can create chaos when an action based response is required. Becoming a follower, learning to listen, and providing input to a plan at the right time are key personal traits that individuals must master as an essential first step along the path toward becoming an effective leader.
Twenty-six cadets from Orange County High School's JROTC program recently completed a week of intense training that fine-tuned their followership skills and polished their leadership ability, giving them the edge to take charge of a demanding situation such as the 4 x 4 accident scenario.
During final pre-camp departure checks for the journey to Fort Pickett, OCHS Montpelier Battalion Operations Officer in Charge Cadet Charlie Edge said, "We've met all of our pre-camp training requirements over the last three weeks and are excited to take it to the next level."
In fact, out of 44 high schools from Virginia and North Carolina, Orange sent one of the largest contingents of cadets to Fort Pickett (26 cadets), the most ever from OCHS to attend a leadership camp since the JROTC program's 1984 inception at the high school. In all, 522 cadets conducted training during the taxing week-long event with little sleep and plenty of individual and team challenges.
"Cadets trained hard over the course of an action packed week that was designed to push them out of their comfort zones to garner new individual and collective growth. Leadership skill training and confidence building situational exercises kept cadets moving from 0430 to 2300 hours daily," 1st Sgt. (Ret) and OCHS JROTC instructor Charles McIntyre said. "I couldn't be more proud of these cadets, they are certainly not the typical teen on summer break that may be just sleeping in or sitting by the pool watching life go by. Our cadets had fun, pushed themselves, and learned about the necessity of teamwork to accomplish complex equations," McIntyre added.
Cadet Stephanie Young said, "I think the best thing about leadership camp was getting to meet all the other cadets from different schools. There were kids there from the city and those from even more rural areas than Orange. We all were assigned to new teams with cadets we didn't know. It took a while to learn that we all had to cooperate and pull together to accomplish our missions, but we did it."
"Leadership camp was a capstone event for JROTC cadets who proved themselves over this past school year," said Maj. (Ret) Kent Daniel. "However, this is not a culminating event, but an investment in the future of each cadet as they take on increased responsibilities in OCHS' Montpelier Battalion, in the high school, and ultimately in the community. This is really just a waypoint for these young folks whom we are committed to growing one at a time through daily structure, challenges, and personal achievements that will inculcate life skills to make a difference today and tomorrow."
The purpose of leadership camp is to provide JROTC cadets challenging, meaningful, hands-on training in a military structured environment to develop good citizenship, leadership and patriotism. Cadet William Hallam demonstrated these traits best by earning the second overall Top Cadet distinction out of 522 cadets. Hallam, as all cadets was evaluated daily and ultimately selected by his peers and cadre to compete in a grueling review board held by the Camp Commandant and his leadership team, all retired senior ranking Army commissioned and non-commissioned officers.
Orange County cadets demonstrated their commitment and teamwork in each of the units they were assigned, bringing home certificates of achievement that indicate their individual and overall excellence. rappel tower, rope bridge, first aid reaction course, drown proofing, best overall platoon, best overall company, camp appreciation, and distinguished cadet are some of the certificates OCHS cadets earned. Additionally, cadets' parents, Barry Clapper and Rene' McCarthy chaperoned, and Randy Young and Karen Campbell provided transportation support, making leadership camp a truly fun, growth oriented week.