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SHS RIFLE WITH ANOTHER GREAT SHOWING
SHS RIFLE WITH ANOTHER GREAT SHOWING
The SHS JROTC Packer Battalion Rifle Team wrapped up an exciting year with their final side-by-side match at the inaugural Tabb Tiger Spring Ahead Invitational, held at Tabb High School! A total of thirty-four Cadets formed nine teams from five schools to compete in this thrilling event. Our SHS Veteran Team, led by our outstanding seniors Nymiar Towns and Ryder Swedland, alongside talented sophomore Joey Freay and freshman Miranda Hensley, claimed first place. Not to be outdone, the SHS Novice Team, featuring Jayden Hedgepeth, James Goodrich, Leila Cameron, and Nikolai Szymaski, also soared to a fantastic first-place finish!
In individual accolades, Nymiar Towns and Ryder Swedlund secured 2nd and 3rd overall in the Veteran Division, while Miranda Hensley took 3rd overall in the Novice Division. "What an amazing day for the team! Shooting side by side is so much more enjoyable than a postal match because it allows us to connect with other marksmen from around the region," exclaimed LTC (Ret) Pete Badoian, our enthusiastic team coach. "We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the Tabb Tigers for hosting this fantastic event and organizing a coaches forum and shooters clinic. The insights and knowledge shared during these sessions were invaluable for both our shooters and us coaches as we aspire to learn from those who are more experienced and successful!"
SHS JROTC Rifle Team shoot from the kneeling position during their Northeast Regional
Competition at Camp Perry, OH (L to R) Black sweatshirts : Senior-Nymiar Towns; Senior-
Ryder Swedlund, Sophomore-Joey Frey, Freshman-Miranda Hensley, Junior-James Goodrich
SHS ARMY JROTC SPORTER RIFLE MARKSMAN TOP 10% IN NATION
SHS ARMY JROTC SPORTER RIFLE MARKSMAN TOP 10% IN NATION
The Smithfield HS JROTC Rifle Team had an exhilarating week at the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Competition Center in Port Clinton, Ohio! They participated in the Army JROTC (AJROTC) Air Rifle Northeast Regional Championships at Camp Perry, where they stood out among 27 qualified AJROTC teams from across the northeast region of the U.S.
Team Captain Nymiar Towns led the charge, impressively scoring 510 and 509 out of a possible 600 points over two days of fierce competition, ultimately placing 29th overall! The team wrapped up in 17th place nationally and proudly took 2nd in the state of Virginia.
Throughout the two-day event, featuring 60 shots each day, Nymiar earned the coveted gold CMP pin by achieving an incredible score of 510 or higher! Fellow teammate Ryder Swedlund shone bright as well, claiming a silver CMP pin with his score over 480. Cadets Joey Frey, James Goodrich, and Miranda Hensley also made their mark, qualifying for bronze CMP pins by surpassing the 440 point threshold.
“I am so proud of these cadets! They shot exceptionally well this week, especially considering that four out of our five shooters were experiencing this competition for the first time!”I could not be prouder”, said Coach LTC (Ret) Peter Badoian.
SHS JROTC Blood Drive Kicks Off The Start of Another Great Year!
SHS JROTC Blood Drive Kicks Off The Start of Another Great Year!
PICTURE (L-R) LEFT: KADENCE DISTEFANO RIGHT: KENLY OWNEY
October 30 - Smithfield High School - The Smithfield JROTC Packer Battalion and the American Red Cross partnered this month to conduct their first two blood drives of the school year: the teacher/ community drive on October 15th and the Student/ Community drive on October 30th. Teachers, students, and community members together donated 109 pints -38 pints from the first drive, and 71 pints from the second drive. The result is having the potential to save over 325 lives. Exceeding the Red Cross goals again, both drives were a huge success! With cadets running the drive flow by working stations and donor flow, they assisted the Red Cross and donors in managing a smooth drive. With these donations, Smithfield High School aims to maintain their spot as the top donating high school in Virginia for the 6th year in a row. The next scheduled drive is February 19, 2025. Cadet Public Affairs Officer, Courtney Martin, says,”we hope to continue filling the appointment spots, so save the date and support the #1 school in Virginia! We thank the SHS students (especially those first time donors), faculty, and community members who came out, rolled up their sleeves, and donated.We cannot thank you all enough.”
Written by: Cadet, Cheyenne Scott, JROTC Packer Battalion Assistant Public Affairs Officer
SHS Drill Team Takes First!
SHS Drill Team Takes First!
Picture (L-R):
1SG Marvin Hunter(Team Coach); Kneeling: Couirtney Martin, Aubrey Graupmann
2nd Row: Gianna Garrett, Cheyenne Scott, Adelyn Herrera-Nixon, Keagan Frey, Madisen Whitehurst, Summer Quimby, Isabella Ramirez, Christian Jacobs
Back Row: Jayden Hedgepeth, David Blunt, Kaylee Gambill, Joey Frey, Ryder Swedlund, Ryan McEathron
Newport News, VA October 26th - In its first competition of the school year, the Smithfield
High School Army JROTC Drill Team won 1st place overall honors at the annual Hampton
Roads Military Order of World Wars (MOWW) Drill Competition conducted at Christopher
Newport University, Newport News VA.
Competing against eight other JROTC Teams, the Packer Battalion Drill Team placed in all five
regulation events; and took home a 1st Place finish in the three-man exhibition.
“The team worked very hard preparing for this competition. I’m so proud of them and their
efforts,” said First Sergeant (1SG) Marvin Hunter, Smithfield High School JROTC Army
Instructor and Drill Team coach. “I hope the team will continue to improve and maintain focus
as we prepare for our next competition in December.”
SHS JROTC Continues Learning Lifesaving Lessons from Stop The Bleed Program
1SG Marvin Hunter verifies Cadets Charlise Albers (Center) and Khadajah Swan (Right) STB hands on training as other cadets wait their turn
Motivating young people to become better citizens is the mission of the Army JROTC program. On October 9th the JROTC Battalion conducted training to “Stop the Bleed”, providing cadets the training to possibly save someone’s life. The Stop The Bleed (STB) program teaches cadets how to stop a severe bleeding injury so a person does not bleed out before 1st responders arrive on the scene. Last year the current JROTC Packer Battalion Commander, Kadence Distefano, and former JROTC Cadet, Ethan Swartz, not only brought the STB program to SHS, they also collected enough Stop the Bleed First Aid kits through donations for every classroom at SHS to have a kit mounted in the classroom.
Mr. Mark Wooster, IWC School Board member, and certified STB Instructor, took time out of his busy schedule to teach cadets how to stop severe life-threatening bleeding. The training is designed to teach how to stop a severe bleed which could result in someone’s death before first responders arrive. Thanks to Mr. Wooster, Senior Army Instructor, Peter Badoian, and Army Instructor, First Sergeant Marvin Hunter, 91 JROTC cadets are now certified to “stop the bleed”. Cadets are now prepared with the skill set to provide aid in emergency situations.
The JROTC program’s next major event is Wednesday, October 30th, when we will host our first student/ community blood drive of the year. If you are interested in saving three lives, please make an appointment at redcrossblood.org at our SHS drive. Appointment slots are filling fast.
Written by: Cadet Courtney Martin, JROTC Packer Battalion Public Affairs Officer
Our Cadets Continue to Strive for Education and Insight
Our Cadets Continue to Strive for Education and Insight
BACK ROW (L to R): COL(Ret) Samuel Licorish, Summer Quimby, Kadence Distefano, BG Steven King, Charlise Albers, Keagan Frey FRONT ROW (L to R): Courtney Martin, Nymiar Towns, Ryder Swedlund, and Christian Jacobs
DENBIGH HIGH SCHOOL - 3 OCTOBER - On October 3rd the Packer Battalion Smithfield High School JROTC Staff were invited to Denbigh High School to participate in a leadership town hall featuring Brigadier General Steven M. King, the Deputy Commanding General of United States Army Cadet Command (USACC). Cadets from Bethel, Denbigh, and Smithfield High School JROTC programs attended. Guest speakers shared their personal journeys through their lives, exploring key moments in their military careers, and shared their adaptation to principles and skills they gained along the way. Cadets were able to ask probing questions of the three panel members consisting of BG King, COL (Ret) Samuel Licorish (Richmond DAI) and LTC Charles Birdsong (Senior Army Instructor for Bethel HS).
This event fostered meaningful connections and inspired our staff cadets with opportunities for mentorship and guidance for those considering a career in the military and a way to navigate life’s obstacles..
BG King presented Charlise Albers,the Packer Battalion Executive Officer, with his USACC Challenge Coin for her performance at the American Independence Youth Leadership Conference in April 2024; her achievement as being chosen as one of the Motivational Cadet Leaders at JCLC Summer Camp in June 2024, and placing second in the battalion for girls in the Cadet Challenge Fitness Test in May 2024. After receiving her coin, Cadet Albers said, “After working diligently over the past few months to continue developing my leadership style, it feels extraordinary to be recognized for my efforts by receiving the USACC Challenge Coin. This is motivation for anyone else to not give up and to keep giving everything your all!”
Article written by C/ CPT Courtney Martin, Packer Battalion Public Affairs Officer
SHS JROTC Packer Battalion and ODU ARMY ROTC Monarchs “Hook Up” to Rappel
OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY - On April 18, 2024 Smithfield JROTC cadets were invited by the Army ODU ROTC Department to conduct a Rappel Lab along with three other high schools from the surrounding area. Before cadets proceeded to the top of ODU’s Ballard Football Stadium to rappel, they received ground safety training from ODU’s Army ROTC Cadre. The cadets were taught to create their rope and snaplink harnesses, signal when the lanes were clear, and rappel. After ascending to the top of the stadium, cadets rappelled 50 feet down the side of the stadium and then assisted the next cadet as their belay, or safety. Jackson Young, a third-semester cadet said “The tower is a great way to face my fears and show courage. It’s scary at the start, but once you get going it’s not so bad.” Alpha Company Commander, Gianna Garrett, said, “I felt proud of all of my cadets for overcoming their fears; based on their smiles, I could tell they were having a great time. ”
Written by Packer BN Public Affairs Officer Kadence DiStefano
Cadets Nicole Smith, Kassia Bell, and Caleb Gammel rappel down Ballard Stadium
Left to right: MAJ (Ret) John Brayshaw, COL (Ret) Hank Harris, MAJ (Ret) Charles Rogers (Chapter 84 President), LTC (Ret) Peter Badoian, 1SG (Ret) Marvin Hunter and Asst. Principal and JROTC Booster Treasurer Danielle Hewitt
PACKER JROTC BATTALION RECEIVES A $2K GRANT FROM THE LOCAL SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION (SFA)
APRIL 24th – SMITHFIELD HS – The US Army Special Forces Association, Chapter 84, Hampton Roads provided a $2000 donation to the SHS JROTC Packer Battalion Rifle Team today to purchase an electronic target. Three members from Chapter 84 came to present a check for $2K to LTC Peter Badoian and 1SG Marvin Hunter to purchase another electronic target for their rifle range. Retired COL Hank Harris, Retired MAJ Charles Rogers, and Retired Major John Brayshaw presented the check which makes the 7th Electronic Target for the 16-lane range. “What an awesome donation as we are trying to improve the team talent to compete on the national stage and these targets make it much easier for the marksmen to evaluate their shooting in real-time as well as for me to coach them in real-time”, said Coach Peter Badoian. “I can also see every shot each cadet makes when they make it on a full-screen display and can help them make needed adjustments as necessary. The long-range goal for this range is to have all sixteen lanes manned with electronic targets eventually, but the short-term goal is 8 and we are almost there. It is very exciting when local organizations take their time and money to support the program. We cannot thank Chapter 84 of the SFA enough for their generous donation. We hope to place in regionals next year and qualify for nationals. These targets may allow us to do just that!!!”
APRIL 24th – SMITHFIELD HS – The US Army Special Forces Association, Chapter 84, Hampton Roads provided a $2000 donation to the SHS JROTC Packer Battalion Rifle Team today to purchase an electronic target. Three members from Chapter 84 came to present a check for $2K to LTC Peter Badoian and 1SG Marvin Hunter to purchase another electronic target for their rifle range. Retired COL Hank Harris, Retired MAJ Charles Rogers, and Retired Major John Brayshaw presented the check which makes the 7th Electronic Target for the 16-lane range. “What an awesome donation as we are trying to improve the team talent to compete on the national stage and these targets make it much easier for the marksmen to evaluate their shooting in real-time as well as for me to coach them in real-time”, said Coach Peter Badoian. “I can also see every shot each cadet makes when they make it on a full-screen display and can help them make needed adjustments as necessary. The long-range goal for this range is to have all sixteen lanes manned with electronic targets eventually, but the short-term goal is 8 and we are almost there. It is very exciting when local organizations take their time and money to support the program. We cannot thank Chapter 84 of the SFA enough for their generous donation. We hope to place in regionals next year and qualify for nationals. These targets may allow us to do just that!!!”
SHS JROTC Cadets Represent at The American Independence Youth Leadership Conference
WILLIAMSBURG, VA- Four JROTC cadets from Smithfield High School attended the American Independence Youth Leadership Conference at the Williamsburg 4-H camp 24-28 April. Smithfield Cadets Charlise Albers, Leila Cameron, Ryan McEathron, and Andrew Ruppert participated in the event alongside forty-five other students from Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland. At the conference, the cadets spent`13 hours in the classroom learning Practical skills, effective communication, government, and free enterprise. Outside of the classroom setting the cadets conducted team building, compatibility, scientific, and mathematical exercises. The forty-five cadets also participated in a tour of the colonial triangle of Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown.
Cadet Charlie Albers was selected by instructors for The Superior Leadership Award, given to the conference's best leader. and by her peers for the conference's “Best Citizen Award”. Cadet Ryan McEathron was named the conference's “Most Outstanding Leader” and also received the Thomas Jefferson Award for the Conference Best Five-Man Team. Ryan stated, "Learning to lead effectively and standing out in a positive light are the best ways to get noticed. We learned important lessons in the classroom throughout the conference, and one of those lessons was active listening. I discovered how crucial it is to step back and allow others to have the same opportunities to learn. We learned a great deal from this experience.”
The event, sponsored by The Military Order of World Wars (MOWW), attempts to assist in shaping students into leaders by emphasizing the value of respectful behavior, collaboration, and effective communication. The MOWW provided four $700 full scholarships for the four Smithfield cadets to attend the conference. “What an awesome gift to these cadets to allow them to attend the conference free!, said LTC Pete Badoian, “ Based on the cadets feedback the experience was huge value added to their development.”
Written by Packer Battalion Public Affairs Officer, S5, C/CPT Kadence DiStefano
JROTC and Red Cross Maintain their #1 Status- Smithfield, VA:
Smithfield HS JROTC and the Red Cross wrapped up their 4th drive of the school year on April 24th. The drive was a huge success; surpassing the Red Cross goal once again! With cadets running the flow of the drive by working stations and donor flow they assisted the Red Cross and donors in creating a smooth drive. Collecting 68 pints of blood this drive and a total of 231 pints for the school year, resulting in almost 700 lives being potentially saved. With these donations, Smithfield High School maintains the top donating school in the state status, and, in addition, the Red Cross selected the Smithfield HS April drive as the blood drive of the week. This was the 2nd time this year that SHS drives were selected! We appreciate everyone who donated and hopes to continue filling the time spots! The next scheduled drive is October 15th, 2024, so save the date and come support us in retaining the #1 spot in VA. We thank the SHS students, faculty, and community members who donated and encourage all who can to come out, roll up a sleeve, and save three lives again in October!
Rifle Team Article 2023 Camp Perry.docxPackers save lives!!!.docxPacker Marksmen complete season.docxWILLIAMSBURG, VA- Four JROTC cadets from Smithfield High School attended the American Independence Youth Leadership Conference at the Williamsburg 4-H camp 24-28 April. Smithfield Cadets Charlise Albers, Leila Cameron, Ryan McEathron, and Andrew Ruppert participated in the event alongside forty-five other students from Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland. At the conference, the cadets spent`13 hours in the classroom learning Practical skills, effective communication, government, and free enterprise. Outside of the classroom setting the cadets conducted team building, compatibility, scientific, and mathematical exercises. The forty-five cadets also participated in a tour of the colonial triangle of Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown.
Cadet Charlie Albers was selected by instructors for The Superior Leadership Award, given to the conference's best leader. and by her peers for the conference's “Best Citizen Award”. Cadet Ryan McEathron was named the conference's “Most Outstanding Leader” and also received the Thomas Jefferson Award for the Conference Best Five-Man Team. Ryan stated, "Learning to lead effectively and standing out in a positive light are the best ways to get noticed. We learned important lessons in the classroom throughout the conference, and one of those lessons was active listening. I discovered how crucial it is to step back and allow others to have the same opportunities to learn. We learned a great deal from this experience.”
The event, sponsored by The Military Order of World Wars (MOWW), attempts to assist in shaping students into leaders by emphasizing the value of respectful behavior, collaboration, and effective communication. The MOWW provided four $700 full scholarships for the four Smithfield cadets to attend the conference. “What an awesome gift to these cadets to allow them to attend the conference free!, said LTC Pete Badoian, “ Based on the cadets feedback the experience was huge value added to their development.”
Written by Packer Battalion Public Affairs Officer, S5, C/CPT Kadence DiStefano
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