CULPEPER, VA — Culpeper County Public Schools (CCPS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (MCJROTC) Raider teams earned national recognition earlier this month after competing against some of the top programs in the country at the 2026 National Raider Competition in Molena, Georgia.
The competition, held May 9, brought together elite MCJROTC Raider teams from across the United States. CCPS sent both a male division team and a mixed division team to compete after qualifying through strong performances in local and state Raider competitions throughout the year.
Out of more than 20 teams competing at the national event, Culpeper County’s mixed team placed 8th in the nation, while the male team finished 9th overall, solidifying the program’s place among the top MCJROTC Raider programs in the country.
Schools from California, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia competed at an exceptionally high level throughout the event. According to Major Phillips, USMC (Ret.), Senior Marine Instructor for the program, the margins between placements were razor-thin.
“The competition was exceptionally close, with only a few seconds separating 4th place from 9th place,” said Major Phillips. “This accomplishment reflects the dedication, discipline, and teamwork our Cadets demonstrate every day. We are extremely proud of their hard work and representation of our school and community.”
Cadet Staff Sergeant Samantha Bennett, Executive Officer of the Culpeper County MCJROTC program, reflected on the team’s growth and determination leading up to nationals.
“I have seen this team grow over the last two years and it is surreal to see it finally paying off,” Bennett said. “Everybody deserved to be here and they worked extremely hard to reach this point. I'm proud of the team for reaching so far and the progress they've made.”
The cadets competing on the male Raider team included Miles Bennett, Michael Nenyuk, Dustin Payne, Jackson Nichols, Yoshua Cordova, Hemerson Ico, Ever Galindo, Asiel Marquez, Jairo Pec Beb, and Amir Summerlin.
Members of the mixed Raider team included Samantha Bennett, Evelin Popchoc, Kimberly Caal Tuil, Brisa Vite, Christopher Compton, Tyler Tipton, Hunter Spain, Armstrong Ba Cucul, Mijail Ba Cucul, and Nicolas Rhoads.
MCJROTC Raider competitions test cadets in physically demanding events that emphasize endurance, teamwork, leadership, and mental toughness. With approximately 250 schools nationwide participating in MCJROTC programs, earning a top-10 national finish represents a significant accomplishment for Culpeper County’s cadets.
The success at nationals marks another milestone for the Culpeper County MCJROTC program and highlights the dedication of its cadets, instructors, and supporters throughout the community.