Army Reserve Unit Supports Local Junior ROTC Raider Challenge

Mud, sweat and chants of esprit de corps filled the air at Northwest High School in Wichita, Kansas, Oct. 1, 2026, as the next generation of military leaders were put to the test.  

Junior ROTC cadets from eight high schools across the area converged for the annual City League Raider Challenge, a grueling competition of physical strength and mental fortitude. Providing support and encouragement throughout the event, and often right in the thick of the action, were soldiers assigned to the Army Reserve’s 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command.

The Raider Challenge pushed 11 teams of cadets to their limits with a demanding series of events, including a rope bridge, a mile team run and an obstacle course. Cadets traversed walls, navigated rope obstacles and powered through a muddy low crawl, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and grit. 

“There was a lot of motivation out there,” said Army Maj. Chris Cooper, command inspector general, who served as a grader on the obstacle course. “They really liked getting in the mud. I thought they’d all be hesitant, but they dove right in and showed a lot of encouragement towards one another.”

Soldiers assigned to the 451st ESC, a Wichita-based Army Reserve unit, volunteered their time to help score and mentor the cadets throughout the competition. Their presence provided more than logistical support; it offered the students a direct link to service members living in their own community. 

“It’s important for them to see a representation of what being a service member looks like and to know that we are out here supporting our community,” said Army Master Sgt. Brian Michael Poe Jr., command assistant inspector general. “If they are curious about the military after high school, they can pick our brains a bit.” 

Their presence is a cornerstone of the Army Reserve’s identity as “twice the citizen” —soldiers who serve the nation while living and working as civilians in their local communities. For the command, participating in events like the Raider Challenge is a direct investment in the future of Wichita.

“This is the youth, this is the future,” explained Army Sgt. 1st Class Lewis Nicholson, an operations noncommissioned officer with the unit and a former high school Junior ROTC cadet. “By getting ourselves involved with the high school and the JROTC program, it’s another way to give back.” 

The sentiment was echoed by retired Army Lt. Col. Bob Bystrek, senior Army instructor for the Northwest High School Junior ROTC program and a former member of the 451st ESC. 

“Today is where months of training and dedication come to fruition for these cadets and seeing that hard work pay off is incredibly gratifying,” Bystrek said. “A huge thank you to the team at the 451st ESC for coming out and helping us.” 

As the final teams crossed the finish line, it was clear the event was more than just a competition. It was a powerful demonstration of community, mentorship and the enduring bond between the city of Wichita and the citizen-soldiers of the sustainment command.