Cadets pictured with COL VanZant, Executive Officer Emeritus of the California Cadet Corps and 1LT Cook-Askins, Commandant of Cadets
Cadets from the California Cadet Corps at Riverside Preparatory School (Oro Grande School District) competed in the annual California Cadet Corps, State Championship, Individual Major Award’s competition on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base.
The Individual Major Awards competition is an interview board process system that selects the most outstanding cadets. It is an opportunity for the best cadets to demonstrate their competency at Cadet Corps knowledge, current events, and speaking skills. A panel that consisted of soldiers from the California Army National Guard, California State Military Reserve and veteran organizations interviewed cadets. Cadets were asked verbal questions from the eight Cadet Corps standards, which include: Patriotism, Academics/Citizenship, Military Subjects, Fitness/Wellness, Drill and Ceremonies, First Aid/CPR. Map Reading and Leadership.
Cadet’s who compete at the State Championship placed First Place at the local regional (Brigade) level competition and represented the different regions from across the State of California.
Riverside Preparatory School Cadets placed in two categories at the State Championship: Junior Division Best Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) and Senior Division Best First Year Cadet.
- Cadet Corporal Derek Newman 2nd Place Junior Division Non-Commissioned Officer, State of California
- Cadet First Class Vincent Sunseri 3rd Place Senior Division Best First Year Cadet, State of California
For their notable achievements, they were awarded a plaque, certificate, ribbon and a medal. The State Headquarters Staff of the California Cadet Corps and the Director of the California National Guard Youth Programs Directorate presented awards.
1LT Kenneth Cook-Askins is the Commandant of Cadets at Riverside Preparatory School. The California Cadet Corps has been at the school since August 2007.
The California Cadet Corps has been developing leaders since 1911 and is the oldest school based youth leadership development program of its kind in the United States and is currently administered by the California National Guard. The Program strives to develop leadership, citizenship, patriotic spirit, fitness and personal health/wellness, and academic success in its members, as well as promoting knowledge of basic military subjects. Currently in more than 100 elementary, middle, and high schools across the state, the California Cadet Corps serves 10,000 students annually.
