Cadets from Effingham County High School’s Air Force JROTC recently attended the annual Summer Leadership School (SLS) at Mercer University for a week, and several were recognized for their successes and achievement.

Four cadets, Jesse Campbell, Justin Mercer, Jeremy Paulk and Kendall Stephens, successfully graduated the school last summer and returned this year to serve in key cadet management positions as cadet officers. Campbell was recognized as having the fastest run time among the 50 cadet officers with a time of 4:57. Seven other cadets attended for the first time as basic trainees: Christa Bullard, Megan Edwards, Trauna Williams, Darrell David, David Blanks, Travis Longenberger and Hunter Tuttle. Longenberger was recognized as the Outstanding Basic Cadet (best cadet among the 125 basics in attendance), Best Personal Inspection for the basics, and member of the Outstanding Flight (12-15 cadets per flight).

Blanks earned the Outstanding Flight Award for his flight, Tuttle was recognized for best Flight Regulation Drill, and Edwards earned the Flight Academic Achievement in her flight, and also earned Best Room Inspection among the basics in the school.

The school is designed to provide cadets the level of leadership training necessary for them to return the next academic year and help operate the cadet corps at their respective schools.

The school is challenging and demanding. The typical day will start at 6 a.m. and end at approximately 10:30 p.m. The daily agenda includes physical fitness training (1-mile run and exercises), drill practice and evaluation, academics, athletics/team sports and personal and dormitory room inspections.

This SLS also included a picnic and a graduation/awards ceremony. Fifteen high schools from Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina participated in this year’s activities.