On Friday, October 11, 2024, Culpeper County Public Schools (CCPS) held a ceremony to unveil a newly installed Obstacles, Walls, and Poles course for the CCPS Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) Raiders. The event took place at 1:30 p.m. and featured cadets, the Dominion Energy volunteer team, and a Dominion Energy truck as the backdrop.
The MCJROTC Raiders course was made possible through a partnership between Culpeper County Public Schools and Dominion Energy, and the dedication of the MCJROTC instructors, Major Phillips, and 1st Sergeant Steward. Dominion installed eight 10-foot poles for competition purposes, allowing the Raiders team to train and compete at a higher level. There was no cost associated with this project, and all materials and time were donated through the Dominion Energy Volunteer Program and Cedar Mountain Stone/Chemung Contracting. In addition to Dominion Energy’s time and materials donation, Cedar Mountain Stone/Chemung Contracting provided labor and materials to set the poles in concrete. This was a key component to the course, as the poles had to be precise and allow for no movement because Raiders regulations state the course has to remain exact for each team competing to ensure a fair competition. A special thank you to Ben Cockerille (Dominion Energy) and his team of seven volunteers, and the Cedar Mountain Stone/Chemung Contracting team that included Ed Dalyrmple, Paul Rash, David Bradeson, and Jeff Holsinger.
The Raiders team, consisting of 30 cadets in Male, Mixed, and All-female teams, is part of the larger MCJROTC program held at Eastern View. This program has 120 students enrolled which consist of students at both Eastern View High School and Culpeper County High School. The Raiders, known for their physically demanding competitions, will benefit greatly from the new course as they continue to compete in obstacle courses, distance team running events, first aid scenarios, and rope bridge construction and crossing events.
Following the unveiling, the Cadets’ Commanding Officer gave a short speech, and the cadets demonstrated a rope bridge crossing, showcasing their skills on the newly installed equipment. Major Phillips stated that “it might be simple for Dominion to set poles because this is your everyday, but to some of our cadets this is life changing” in which Ben Cockerille followed up stating that “This has been incredible to watch. We had no idea the magnitude of this volunteer day until we saw it in action.”
The CCPS MCJROTC program also fields teams in Air Rifle, Drills, and Academic Quiz competitions; but the Raiders have been our program's most successful team, regularly competing against the best in Virginia.
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About Dominion Energy
Dominion Energy is committed to supporting the communities it serves through outreach initiatives such as this project. Their contribution helps strengthen Culpeper County’s schools and enhances student opportunities for success.
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About MCJROTC
The Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps in CCPS is dedicated to developing leadership, teamwork, and discipline among its students, preparing them for future challenges both inside and outside the classroom.