Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
The Army JROTC Raider Team at Stanhope Elmore High School is proving that a young program can quickly make a name for itself, turning hard work and determination into national success.
Founded in 2024, the team of 14 cadets, six girls and eight boys, has rapidly grown into a competitive force. In just two years, the group has gone from learning the basics to standing among the top teams in the country.
At the 2026 national Raider competition held at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Stanhope Elmore placed fourth in the mixed team division in the nation. The team also finished 51st overall out of 311 teams and earned first place in the 6th Brigade, which includes programs from Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Puerto Rico and Louisiana. The finish marked a major jump from the team’s first national appearance, where it placed 38th.
“If you told me 18 months ago, when we were still figuring out how to properly lace our boots and time a 5K run, that we would be sitting at number four in the country, I would have called you a liar,” said SFC Wayne Kindley. “Most programs spend a decade building the muscle memory required to even qualify for Nationals. To be the fourth best team in the nation in just our second year is not just about talent. It is a testament to a group of young people who refuse to accept the timeline everyone else tried to give them. It feels like we have skipped the line, but the blisters on their feet and the time on that clock prove we earned every inch of it. I could not be prouder of these Raiders, and I love them like they are my own kids.”
The national competition includes a series of physically and mentally demanding events, including a 5K team run, cross country rescue, gauntlet, physical team test, one rope bridge and Raider item relay. Each challenge requires endurance, precision and trust.
C/1st Sgt. Gabbriella Brown, a junior and one of the original team members, said the difference from the first year to the second year has been remarkable.
“The difference from the first year to the second year was extraordinary,” Brown said. “We came in our first year not knowing exactly what was going on or how it would work, and finishing 38th in the nation was an amazing accomplishment. This year, we had more experience, we were better prepared, and we trained harder. We put our blood, sweat and tears into this. We gave it everything we had, and that is what led to us placing fourth in the nation.”
Brown said the team’s bond has been just as important as its performance.
“We are very proud of this accomplishment, especially for our seniors,” she said. “We were in the mud and dirt together, holding on to each other, motivating each other and pushing each other to keep going. That is what Raiders is about. We motivate each other.”
She added that the competition itself brings a different mindset.
“Being in the moment, you’re not thinking about first or second place,” Brown said. “You’re thinking about how well you can perform, how you can push yourself even more and how the team can finish strong and united. It was a great overall experience.”
C/Capt. Manny Peralta, a junior and one of the original team members, said the team has used each competition as a chance to improve.
“During our first year, we saw a lot of improvement and learned where we needed to get better in each event,” Peralta said. “That paid off this year. We’re going to build on what we’ve learned, improve in key areas and come back aiming for a first-place finish. Placing fourth in the nation is incredible. It shows that the hard work we put in matters. You get out what you put in. Seeing the team improve through all the practices and effort has been awesome.”
Newer members have also found their place within the team.
C/Staff Sgt. Katie Haigler, a sophomore who joined after the 2024 national competition, said the experience has been both challenging and fun.
“I’ve seen the team grow and change a lot, and it’s been an amazing experience,” Haigler said. “Competing was never nerve-racking. It was fun. Your teammates push you, and it becomes a great team bonding experience.”
C/Capt. Janiya King, a senior competing in her first year, said the experience helped her grow more confident.
“At the start of the competition, it felt overwhelming,” King said. “But as I went through each event, I became more confident and pushed myself to my limits. I really enjoyed seeing how much our team improved, especially after all the practices and the effort everyone put in. It was a great experience.”
The Raider Team will compete again in October 2026, with tryouts scheduled two weeks before the event. No position is guaranteed, reinforcing the team’s competitive standard and commitment to improvement.
For these cadets, the journey is far from over. With sights set on returning to nationals and finishing first in the nation, they continue to train together, push each other and represent their school and community with pride.
