By Mark Schmerling

 

Ten years ago, Landrum High School instituted a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program.

 

In the past five years, competing against many larger schools, the program’s Raider team has earned four South Carolina state championships, and a very close second. Further, in 2011, Landrum’s Raider team topped the Best of the Best in competition involving the highest-placing three Raider teams from each of seven states.

 

While much of the success comes from the physical and mental accomplishments of the nine individuals on the Raider team, a good deal of that is brought out by retired Lt. Col. Robert Sanders, the leader of the school’s JROTC program.

 

“We have a very strong Raider program,” Sanders remarked. Competition consists of negotiating a rope bridge, performing a litter carry over an obstacle course, a truck pull and other facets.

 

“A lot of it takes flexibility and decision-making,” Sanders said. “I think it’s the most physically and mentally demanding course in high school.”

 

An avid cross-fitter, Sanders exemplifies the results of his own rigorous physical training, and knows how to motivate his charges.

 

“If you challenge them,” he asserted, “they’ll rise to the challenge. If you baby them, they’ll be babies. They’ll always surprise you in what they can do. There is no learning,” he continued, “unless you get out of your comfort zone. No learning occurs inside your comfort zone.”

 

A Texas native and 1977 West Point graduate, Sanders fell in love with the Army, and made it a career. He’s become especially drawn to the service aspect.

 

“I enjoy working with the high school kids,” he said. “These kids are awesome. They work a lot harder than I remember working at that age. If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t be here.”

 

Listening to Sanders speak with obvious pride in his students, and understanding that he retired from the Army in 2005 after 28 years of service, one knows that he doesn’t have to be at Landrum High School, or teaching anywhere, and that he really does love what he’s doing.

 

Before arriving at Landrum High School, Sanders taught military science at Furman University, part of his lengthy active-duty experience.

 

Sanders described joining the Army as part of a sense of adventure.

“This,” he said referring to the JROTC program, “was more a calling. I feel like the service part is what it’s about.”

 

Landrum was among a number of area schools beginning JROTC programs some 10 years ago. Sanders looked at many of those, and chose Landrum.

 

“This was tops on my list. I like the community.” He also likes the school size. The Cardinals’ overall JROTC program averages 80 participants per semester and involves other programs, including many with an aspect of community involvement.

 

JROTC students are involved with the local community, in part performing color guard service at local parades and other events, and partly with more personal work.

 

For instance, last year’s Christmas For All program involved the JROTC students providing large boxes of food and lots of clothing for some 40-50 local families in need.

 

This, Sanders notes, is service learning, where the students must get something out of the activity. Often it’s the feeling of what it’s like to stand in someone else’s shoes.

 

Another successful program, Operation Stand Down, held annually at the Spartanburg Expo and Event Center, allows the JROTC cadets to assist homeless and disadvantaged veterans. Last year, they helped obtain dental services and haircuts by professionals who donated their services, and provided basic personal hygiene items, food and clothing to service veterans in need in the Spartanburg area.

 

Sanders said they will do that again this October.

 

“It’s a lot of work,” Sanders admitted of the involvement in that program, but he also pointed out that, “Our cadets get to link up with a veteran. I think service learning is a very important part of the program.”

 

Cadets also enjoy some recreation, including a visit to the U.S. National Whitewater Center, near Charlotte.

 

From June 14-18, 14 Landrum High School cadets will attend a Junior Cadet Leadership Camp at Camp Bud Schiele, a Boy Scout camp near Rutherfordton, N.C.

 

Some 300 cadets from this region will be there, with teams mixed from different schools.

 

Landrum cadets are also heavily involved in Big Brother/Big Sister programs, with the school’s program one of just a few in this area. Cadets partner with third through fifth-grade students at O.P. Earle Elementary School in Landrum.

 

Battalion Commander Alex Rollins of the Cardinals’ JROTC program pointed out that this is the only JROTC Big Brother/Big Sister program in the U.S.

 

Rollins noted that the JROTC unit is “an honor unit with distinction.”

 

“Again, it’s service and learning,” Sanders pointed out in reference to the Big Brother/Big Sister program.

 

During this past week, South Carolina Army National Guard members from Summerville constructed an obstacle course on LHS grounds.

 

“We’ve been working on this for over a year,” Sanders remarked. His cadets will host Raider meets at the facility, which will also be used for team-building events in Spartanburg School District One. Army National Guard members will run the course first. Sanders will run it also, as he won’t make others perform anything he won’t.

 

“Some activities will be a team aspect,” Sanders noted, “with members helping each other through.”

 

Earlier this week, in a nine-member Raider team, Rollins led the building and use of a rope bridge to help introduce some Landrum rising seventh, eighth and ninth graders to the JROTC program. This was designed in part to help recruit younger students for JROTC. It also served as a combination of learning, teamwork and plain fun.

 

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PULL QUOTE:

 

“If you challenge them, they’ll rise to the challenge. If you baby them, they’ll be babies. They’ll always surprise you in what they can do.” – Lt. Col. Sanders

 

 

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