Kofa MCJROTC team finishes in Marine Corps top 4 at national academic bowl
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Kofa High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) placed fourth in the U.S. Marine Corps JROTC Academic Bowl Championship (JLAB) on June 24-28, 2022, held on the campus of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
According to the press release, the finish at the JLAB championship means Kofa owns the No. 4 spot in the nation among MCJROTCs.
Kofa’s JROTC Academic Team composed of Cadet Staff Sergeant James Klienwachter, Cadet Staff Sergeant Brandon Fernandez, Cadet Staff Sergeant Tanner Garner, and Cadet Private First Class Jesus Gaeta competed in the Championship event in Washington, DC.
Kofa High School’s JROTC team earned top scores out of the 108 Marine Corps JROTC academic teams that competed from around the world in February during round two of the competition. They were one of only eight MCJROTC Academic Bowl teams in the nation to advance to the final competition, which included the all-expense paid trip to the Nation’s capital.
“Our JROTC Cadets spent countless hours studying and preparing for this event and achieved success at the highest level showing what they are truly capable of,” KHS MCJROTC instructor Sgt. Major Colen Laarman said.
The JROTC Leadership & Academic Bowl is a nationally recognized competition created exclusively for JROTC students. By participating, cadets learn the values of citizenship, academic competition, and college opportunity.
The MCJROTC program is part of Career & Technical Education (CTE) at Kofa High School. The program is led by Laarman and Major Todd Birney and serves more than 130 cadets. In the past four years, the program has earned countless honors, ranging from rifle and physical training competition awards, scholarships, and being recognized as a prestigious Naval Honors School.
