DEVELOPING NEW SKILLS AND CELEBRATING IN THE COMMUNITY!
THAT’S WHAT WILDCATS JROTC CADETS DO!!!
Roberto Clemente JROTC Cadets had a very busy weekend March 28-29.
By Captain Barbara Jimenez-Soriano, Communications Officer
On Saturday morning, 24 JROTC Cadets awoke before the sunrise on a cool and crisp morning to participate in the first Orienteering Meet of the Spring season. Orienteering is a team event that combines map-reading skills, land navigation, and cross-country running. Competitors make their way through unfamiliar terrain using a compass and a topographical map, to locate pre-determined points.
Our formation was at 7 a.m, with 24 cadets. Battalion Commander Niambi Smith and Orienteering Team Captain Victor Fuentes ensured participants were properly dressed for the chilly weather and that all of our equipment was ready to load on the bus. Shortly after 7:30 we loaded the school bus for the 20 mile trip south of the city, to the Arie Crown Forest Preserve. Since Clemente is the hosting school for CPS JROTC Orienteering events, we arrived early to set up the start and finish lines, registration points and lane assignments. 150 cadets from 9 schools participated in a very successful land navigation training. SFC Lewis had spent Friday afternoon setting up multiple points throughout the orienteering field. He arrived about 6:00am Saturday morning, to make final checks, that all of the points were in place, and ensure the training area was safe. The meet began right on time, at 9:00am. After all the teams returned from searching for their points, at about 12:00am, we celebrated with a picnic. Niambi and 3rd year cadet Jorge Salgado made sure the hot dogs were grilled, chips, snacks and drinks were prepared and served. New friends from other schools were made. Friendly competitions involving spades, foot races, Frisbee and “Ninja” were enjoyed by all.
The following morning 30 cadets, about half of whom had participated in the Orienteering meet, returned to the school, to prepare for the Annual Chicago Greek Day Parade. Dressed in their cadet blue uniforms, gray berets and black overcoats they proudly and professionally braved 40 mile per hour gusty winds and chilly 40 degree temperatures, over the 2 mile route parade route through Greektown. The first year cadet color guard led their first parade “standing tall and looking good, marching through the neighborhood!” Chief Silver ensured the cadets had a good meal before the parade, hosting lunch at Lou Malnati’s Pizza!