PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles High School’s Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps members depart today to compete in the Northwest Drill and Rifle Conference Championship in Spanaway.

Roughrider Company will defend its 2015 regional championships Saturday. Twenty-one cadets will compete in the Armed Drill Team contest, and eight cadets have qualified for Color Guard categories of the competition.

The competition includes Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps JROTC units from 28 schools from Washington and Oregon.

Drill team, color guard

The Roughrider’s 21-member drill team and two four-member color guards, along with the air rifle and fitness teams, won the overall Olympic Division championship with all first- and second-place finishes in the division competitions, and will square off against their closest challenger, Shelton High School, Capt. Jonathan Picker said.

“They have been in all the competitions duking it out,” Picker said of the only team that has been able to beat the Roughriders.

There are more than 120 cadets in Roughrider Company, where students learn military structure, the history of the Navy, leadership skills, organization skills and basic military discipline.

There is no military service required for cadets to take part, but students who complete three years of JROTC programs are eligible for a promotion upon enlistment.

Cybersecurity option

Cadets have the option of competing on drill, color guard, air rifle or fitness teams, and also take part in academic competition and the CyberPatriot cybersecurity competition.

They also compile more than 2,000 hours of public service hours each year.

In 2015, the cadets from Roughrider Company earned the overall championship by taking first place in the Armed Drill Team category, Color Guard Team 1 won second place, Color Guard Team 2 won third, the Physical Strength Team tied for second place and four students earned individual honors.

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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.