The South Effingham High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) had six cadets complete the Area-12 Leadership Academy held June 9-16 at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville.

During this weeklong intensive course, more than 200 of the best cadets from NJROTC programs in Georgia and northeast Florida develop leadership skills and are tested in a high-stress environment.

The days began at 5 a.m. with intensive physical training, followed by hours of classroom instruction, room and personnel inspections, sword instruction, and weref capped with platoon unarmed drill into the evening hours. The candidates were evaluated and observed routinely by platoon advisors, instructors and cadres.

SEHS Company Commander Cadet Steven Adams was selected as a cadre (senior leader) by the Area-12 manager.

“The two things I enjoyed most about my second year attending our Leadership Academy were: being involved with students from different places and backgrounds, and watching how we worked together to achieve one common goal," Adams said.

His platoon was awarded “Honor Platoon” upon graduation.

The SEHS NJROTC participants were Cadets Steven Adams, Matthew Chance, Noah DeSimas, David Runkle, Alex Santangelo and Cierra Saxon. All were awarded the prestigious “Silver Cord” (Aiguillette) to be worn and recognized as top unit leaders.