KHS Naval Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps. Heads to Regional Finals of National Leadership and Academic Bowl

Kingsley High School’s brand new Naval Junior Officer’s Reserve Training Corps. (NJROTC) recently advanced two teams to the regional finals of a nationwide academic competition.

The JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl pits 634 teams from across the country against each other, and only 300 move on to the next round.

‘It is very uncommon, unheard of, even, for a new unit with all first-year cadets to have one, let alone two teams, move on to the second round. The other teams are mainly made up of third- and fourth-year cadets,” said instructor Gunnery Sergeant Mathew Barr.

The bowl tasks students with answering questions about the core curriculum (math, science, and language arts) along with knowledge of college preparation, financial literacy, and current events.

KHS’ teams will have from February 1-15 to take the level 2 tests, and from there, just eight teams will move on to nationals which will be held in Washington, DC. 

Congratulations to Kingsley High School cadets Anna Bauer, Braden Marsh, Isaiah Cosgrove, Lillian Mullin, Ian Mitchell, Katelyn Leathermann, Caleb Phipps and Chase Kizer.

Kingsley High School NJROTC was inaugurated in fall of 2024, but has been a dream years in the making for teacher Kristen Bauer, who was instrumental in bringing the program to the district. GySgt. Mathew Barr spent 15 years in the Marines and was deployed to 40+ countries and brings a wealth of knowledge to the class. The curriculum is based in naval science but includes topics like history, strategy, navigation, astronomy, engineering, military tactics, and more.