For more than 10 years, the Army Junior ROTC Junior Cadet Leadership Challenge Summer Camp has been helping young men and women prepare for life, by providing cadets challenging and meaningful hands-on training in a military environment in an effort to develop good citizenship, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving and patriotism.
“The purpose is to develop a sense of confidence and increase the knowledge base with things that are not normally conducted in the classroom,” explained Lt. Col. Ron Erale, who founded the camp.
Erale, who runs the Cape Henlopen High School JROTC program, said that Delaware JROTC students previously attended a similar camp in Baltimore, Md., but eventually decided to start their own.
“We discovered we didn’t like doing that. The quality of the students was so different. This is not a camp to correct criminal activity. Bring ours together here, and it’s much better for them,” he said, adding, “We also didn’t like the distance.”
More than 60 cadets selected from five Delaware and one Maryland Army JROTC programs assembled at the Delaware National Guard Training Site in Bethany Beach for the camp. They came from Cape Henlopen High School, Sussex Central High School, Sussex Technical High School, Appoquinimink High School and Mount Pleasant High School in Delaware and Wicomico County High School, in Salisbury, Md.
During the students’ weeklong stay at the camp they are able to learn a variety of skills and complete a variety of tasks, such as line navigation.
“It’s like a scavenger hunt. You’re looking for points on the ground that you’re going to navigate to with a direction from a distance,” Erale explained.
During the week, which culminated with a ceremony and guest speaker, campers went to the Maryland National Guard Little Gunpowder Falls Training Site for a physically taxing training day that included a Leader Reaction Course, a very difficult obstacle course, and even rappelled.
“We rappelled from a 30-foot and 60-foot wall. Rappelling was the best. It was a little scary while going over the edge but once you got over it it’s really fun and easy. It makes you want to go back up again,” said 15-year-old Cape Henlopen student Joshua Betts. “We also went to other bases, like Dover Air Base, where we looked at some of the planes there and learned the history. We also went to the Coast Guard and learned how to use our uniform as a floatation device.”
Betts said camp is great because of Erale’s involvement, noting he’s a wonderful JROTC teacher who really cares about his students, which he said means a lot.
“He’s there for the kids. He’s always helps them out and keeps them on the path of what they need to do. He explains everything well and is a good teacher. He even helps kids with college, with recommendations and things like that. For the most part, he puts the kids before himself.”
Betts joined JROTC because he plans to join the Army when he gets older.
“I want to join the military when I get older, and I thought it would help me get a head start. I just want to go into the military and serve my country. I heard many good things about it. It looked like a fun thing to do that would help me out. The goal of JROTC is to help us be better citizens. So it teaches us all the things we need to do good in life,” he said.
He added that the camp has helped prepare him, as well. “It’s really fun and it gives you an idea of what military life might be like. We work on different problem-solving abilities and stress management.”
For a fee of $40, campers were able to stay at the Bethany Beach National Guard Training Site. Erale said that the U.S. Army is kind enough to fund a good portion of the camp, to help keep costs low for the campers.
“And, of course, if we have students with economic need, we’ll just pick up the fee. Most schools here do that.”
The camp is also co-ed, with more than 10 girls participating in the daily activities.
“My mom wanted to get involved with the Army, but then she couldn’t because she got pregnant with my sister. So I figured I’d go ahead and see what it was like,” said Mount Pleasant High School student Shelia Saunders of JROTC. “It’s really fun, interesting. It’s educational and very educational. It’s a better school environment.”
Saunders said she had thought about coming to the camp last year after hearing a number of her peers talking about it.
“Everyone was like, ‘Oh, my god — you have to go.’ Then I joined the raider team for JROTC and I figured I might as well go to camp,” she said.
Sussex Tech senior Hope Riale is in her third year of attending the camp and is attending alongside her brother.
“I’m one of seven,” she explained. “My oldest sister started JROTC and decided she really liked it. She had a lot of her own personal issues, and she definitely learned to cope with them. So my mom decided it would be a good program for all of us to join. We’ve all been in it, except for my little sister, who’s 12.”
Riale said that being a member of JROTC and attending the camp has helped her learn how to interact with different people.
“I like being able to meet new different people. When you see the same people every day, you get so used to their personalities, and you don’t get to deal with other people. When you come here, you just open up and get to know people really well. Like, I just met [Saunders] and we’re like besties.”
The students said the camp has been a wonderful experience and that they would recommend it to anyone interested in participating.
“It’s just a really great experience. If you enjoy putting yourself up to a challenge, being a leader and having fun, then it’s definitely the right program for you,” said Saunders.
“It’s a really fun and exciting way to spend your summer,” said Betts. “It really teaches you a lot. Many people should do it and look into JROTC. Even if you’re not planning on going into the military, it’s still a very good experience to have in your life.”