Pisgah NJROTC cadets Rachel Brooks, Michael Cary and Amy Medford recently devoted one week of their summer to leadership training at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.

These cadets were alongside 170 others from North and South Carolina participating in the Area Six Leadership Academy. The week consisted of intense physical training, military drill and hours of tedious academics designed to instill important leadership skills in the young men and women.

To attend, each cadet must have passed a physical fitness test, maintained a high GPA and shown promising leadership potential in their school. These credentials were necessary for the cadets to survive the grueling week ahead.

The journey began when cadets were dropped off by their parents and forced to stand in a line outside of ...