Climbing walls. Lifting tires. Running to the top of Harrison Ferry Mountain.

That’s how members of the Warren County High School JROTC program can describe spending their summer vacation.

“It takes a lot of discipline. It really does,” said 1st Sgt. Tim Howard (retired) of his JROTC cadets. “Some days you walk outside and the heat and humidity just slap you in the face, but they are out here training going through the rigors of each event. It takes an extraordinary type of student.”

Cadets ran to the top of Harrison Ferry Mountain on Thursday morning, a 2.2-mile trek of torture. Then they turned around and ran to the bottom, a taxing challenge for a different group of leg muscles.

“Some of them don’t really enjoy it,” said Howard, an understatement to be sure.

On Wednesday, cadets were running with full gear at WCHS to get in better shape. The boys carry a 35-pound backpack, while it’s a 25-pound pack for the girls.

Warren County has three teams which will participate in Raider events, beginning with the first meet on Saturday, Aug. 28. Howard says his No. 1 boys team is excelling and he expects that group to be extremely competitive. There’s also an all-girls team for the first time in a decade.

“We’re going to have a Battalion Fun Day on July 30 where we kayak to Rocket Park, have a cookout, and close out the preseason,” said Howard. 

Workouts began June 14.