Congratulations to the SLW Centennial HS Navy JROTC Black Talon Company! On Saturday, September 27th, 2025, the area High School JROTC teams from the Treasure Coast went head to head to win this year’s title of The Do-You-Give-A-Ruck Freedom Festival and Memorial Ruck March Cadet Competition. Each team was charged with completing a 3.43 Mile Ruck (or backpack March) at an average of 15.00 minute mile pace, carrying an average load of 25-35 lbs each.
The SLW Centennial HS NJROTC provided a Color Guard before the festivities began.
This year, our competitors decided to go that extra mile and carry our Country’s Flag throughout the entirety of the ruck March. Patriotism and pride rang loud and proud as they traversed the Indian River State College Massey Campus in Ft. Pierce, Florida. Upon completion of the ruck, each team then had to compete in 2-minute timed muscle failure exercises such as the “Hand Release Push-Up with Arm extensions”, “Pull-ups”, and “Sit-ups”, and finally completing the competition with a timed “Planks”.
Our Drill Sergeants didn’t mess around and they judged each aspect of the competition like these cadets were boot-camp recruits going through their own Fitness Course like true soldiers! All the teams were valiant in their efforts but only one would be triumphant and in the end and leave with the title of Champion and a check for $1000.00.
With an overall score of 254 points, the Saint Lucie West Centennial High School’s Navy JROTC Black Talon Company was this year’s overall winner!
A close second was grabbed by Treasure Coast High School’s Air Force JROTC 5 person team.
Great job by all who competed!
SLW Centennial NJROTC would like to thank Cadet Brandon Ramirez, Cadet Nolan Hamel, Cadet Cameron Pecci, Cadet Jacob Ramos, Cadet Eli Ross, Cadet Zoey Fletcher, Cadet Steven Hussey, Cadet Nathan Rosado, Cadet Andrew Toledo, Cadet Mikayla Woolfson, Cadet Jeffrey Baker, Cadet Brittany Burke, Cadet Jess Fasci, and Cadet Hayden Marcellino.
Thank you for all the parents and families that showed up to support us!!!
