One of the most anticipated events for Central High School’s Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) is hosting the annual Iron Bear Challenge. The athletic competition features physical tests of strength, endurance, speed and balance. On Sept. 29, seventeen NJROTC programs traveled to Central High School from around the region for a chance at taking home the traveling Iron Bear trophy, which went to Gulf High School last year.
“It’s considered a fun day,” said CDR (Ret) Simon Maple USCG.
With names like ‘Damage Control’ and ‘Mount Suribachi’ the challenges are physically demanding. The Tire Flip is also known as ‘The Beast’ and the goal is to flip a 650 lb tire faster than the competition.
At the end of the day, Gulf High School NJROTC once again finished in first place, earning the Iron Bear trophy for another year. While Central’s NJROTC program didn’t quite place in the Iron Bear Challenge, they are impressive nonetheless.
Navy JROTC programs are conducted at accredited secondary schools around the nation and are taught by retired Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard officers as well as enlisted personnel. The U.S. Navy and Hernando County established the NJROTC program (ROAR Regiment) at Central High School in 2000. Central High School NJROTC is currently ranked fourth in the nation. Central’s program has achieved success in becoming the largest, most popular and overall best program in the area. For seven out of the past eight years, Central NJROTC has ranked as one of the top five programs in the nation. This year the Cadets hope to once again receive national recognition.
CDR (Ret) Simon Maple USCG remarked that Senior Cadet (Master Chief) Ryan Tucker, a Senior Enlisted member in Central’s NJROTC unit will graduate this year with a potential military career as a result of all his hard work.
2018 Iron Bear Challenge first, second and third place winners:
Truck Pull:
1st Mitchell High School
2nd Clearwater High School
3rd Eastside High School
Agility Course:
1st Clearwater High School
2nd Vanguard High School
3rd Mitchell High School
Hamster Wheel:
1st Pasco High School
2nd Gulf High School
3rd South Lake High
Damage Control:
1st Gulf High School
2nd Charlotte High School
3rd Crystal River High
Dizzy Izzy:
1st Clearwater High School
2nd University High School
3rd Gulf High School
I-Beam:
1st Gulf High School
2nd Robinson High School
3rd Pasco High School
Tire Flip:
1st Mitchell High School
2nd Clearwater High School
3rd University High School
Mount Suribachi:
1st Clearwater High School
2nd Gulf High School
3rd University High School
Fire Hose:
1st Gulf High School
2nd Mitchell High School
3rd Vanguard High School
Obstacle Course:
1st Gulf High School
2nd King High School
3rd Eastside High School
Winner Gulf High School will be displaying the Iron Bear Trophy for a year. Congratulations!
Overall Winners:
1st Gulf High School, 2nd Clearwater High School, 3rd Mitchell High School
