VPHS JROTC Cadets proudly represented both the city of Ville Platte and Evangeline Parish at the JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge (JCLC) Summer Camp at Camp Beauregard in Pineville, Louisiana from 31 May – 5 June 2010.  The summer camp primarily focused on discipline, self-confidence, leadership, responsibility, and teamwork.   Cadets maintained a very positive, motivated attitude, and overall led in all competitive events among (33) other schools participating throughout the state of Louisiana. 

To maximize training, JCLC Summer Camp consists of two cycles per year.  The first

cycle was 24-29 May 2010—in which JCLC trained 273 cadets.  VPHS participated in the second cycle—in which a total of 311 cadets were trained from (34) schools throughout LA.  A cadre of US Army Cadet Command (USACC) Representatives, Senior Army Instructors, Army Instructors, and Chaperones from all participating schools oversaw the care, feeding, training, transportation, leadership, and evaluation of the cadets.  Training included rappelling, swimming, adventure challenge, leadership reaction course, land navigation and orienteering, leadership, drill and ceremony, and cadet (athletic) challenge events.

Of the (311) cadets trained during the second cycle, (9) VPHS cadets participated in the JCLC summer camp: Cadet Caine Anderson, Cadet Billy Cotton, Cadet Ladarrius Jack, Cadet Rachel Malbrew, Cadet Maegan Moore, Cadet Breonner O’Conner, Cadet Stephan Pitre, Cadet Craig Soileau, and Cadet Katelyn Thille.  

Overall, VPHS cadets dominated Leadership and Cadet Challenge awards throughout JCLC during the second cycle.  Award recipients included: Cadet Billy Cotton (Outstanding Cadet of the Cycle for Bravo Company, 2^nd Platoon.); Cadet Maegan Moore (Highest Overall Female Score in Push-Ups, and Highest Overall Female Score in Flex Arm Hang); Cadet Breonna O’Conner (Highest Overall Female Score for “Cadet Challenge,” Highest Overall Female Score in Curl-Ups, Highest Overall Female Score in the Shuttle Run, and Highest Overall Female Score in Sit and Reach). 

VPHS JROTC Senior Army Instructor, Major Valentine Christian, stated, “The awards and achievements of each of the VPHS cadets are indicative of the first-class quality, spirit, and talents of the students from Ville Platte High School.”   

VPHS Principal Kelli Lafleur added, “I am proud of each of the cadets who represented our “Bulldog Battalion;” their increased maturity and development after only one week of intense training is evident of their own personal courage, discipline, and commitment to self-improvement.”