What is a Raider?
The Raider team is the most physically demanding extracurricular activity in JROTC. A well rounded raider team must be in top notch shape as many of the activities include push ups, sit ups, and / or running. A raider team consist of minimum 8 and maximum of 9 members on a team, this is not gender dictated. Magna Vista usually practices at least 5 hours a week for about 8 weeks before their first raider competition. We attend 3 to 4 raider meets per year, two per semester. The Warrior Battalion has proven to be one of the top teams every year.
During a standard raider competition there are usually about 12 to 30 teams competing in five events:
The modified Army Physical Fitness Test – The cadets are evaluated on their ability to do as many push ups in a minute, sit ups in minute, and how fast they can do a one mile run. Magna Vista’s JROTC has high standards and expects the members of the raider team to be able to do at least 45 push ups, 40 sit ups, and run a mile in 6 minutes 50 seconds. In order to earn the PT of excellence badge the goal is to 65 push ups, 52 sit ups, and run a mile in 6:50.
First Aid and Liter Carry – During this portion of the competition the raider team must run to a designated site where a casualty is located. At this site they must first evaluate the casualty by using the life saving steps, perform first aid on the casualty, and then transport the casualty to a different location. This not only takes physical ability to carry the casualty but they must also remember the life saving steps in order.
One rope bridge – During this event the raider team must construct a one rope bridge over a 40 foot gap and cross the rope using the swiss seats the have tied. This event has the raiders hanging upside down connected to the rope by a D-Ring. They must pull them selves across and disconnect on the other side of the gap. The entire event is timed from the time they start to construct the bridge to the time they untie the last knot. This event is not only physical but involves great teamwork.
Land Navigation / Orienteering – The course consist of 20 points hidden in the woods, the raiders must find as many points as they can within one hour. The course usually stretches out over an area of about 2 to 3 miles. The teams maneuver through the woods using a compass and map with pre-plotted points. The raiders must determine the azimuth and distance from point to point.
5K Road March (3.2 miles) – Out of all the events the 5K road march is the most physically demanding. The raiders start off as a team and must finish as a team. This is a timed team event, they can either walk or run. They carry a canteen of water during the run; they must all finish at the same time. Normally this event is the last event of the day, after all the other events the 5K is just as much mental as it is physical.