Post on 06-May-2018
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1896 - 1915
A precursor to the corps of cadets were
the Barry Cadets, a group of choir boys
from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church who
were inspired to form a military
organization after witnessing a military
tournament in Lawrence in 1875.
Cadets Herman and Howard Langworthy, 1899
The Leavenworth
Corps of Cadets in
1899, 3 years after
their founding
The Cadets in 1904
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1896 - 1915
1908: “Early on the morning
of the 22d of April , in a heavy
rain, the High School Cadets
started on their annual hike.
The ill-fated town of McLouth
was their destination…The
distance of 20-odd miles was
made in 12 hours.”
Rifle drills in 1909
In 1912 a company of Girl
Cadets was organized. The
yearbook stated that the girls
company “supplies a long felt
need, and there can be no
doubt but that it has come to
stay.” Unfortunately, it this
unique organization only
lasted two years.
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1916 - 1930
The tradition of battalion
sponsors took hold in 1920. The
girls had to have a high standing
in school. They were nominated
by the boys of ROTC and voted
on by the girls of the school.
1921 Battalion Sponsors
1922 Cadet Hop
In 1907 the corps of cadets began hosting dances at the
high school, known as Cadet Hops. These dances soon
evolved into the annual military ball.
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1916 - 1930
Cadet Officers 1925
In 1929 the cadets finally
earned the rating of Honor
Unit, one of five schools to
do so in the Seventh Corps
five-state area
Buglers had been
with the corps since
at least 1905, and a
full-fledged band—the precursor to the
drum and bugle
corps—appeared for
the first time in 1926.
1928 Band
A rifle team was
firmly established in
1923 when they were
given a dedicated
indoor firing range.
1924 Rifle Team
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1931 - 1945
Leavenworth ROTC began the
thirties with 226 cadets, and
grew to over 275 during the
1936-37 school year. Because
of this, the corps was
reorganized into a regiment
with two battalions.
The 1938 yearbook paints a different mission of ROTC from its
wartime preparedness origins:
Contrary to the general belief that the ROTC is a course of military
instruction conceived for war preparation only, the preeminent
purpose is to train the cadets to be good citizens and leaders in later
life. The general object of ROTC is to “...inculcate in the students
habits of precision, orderliness, courtesy, correctness of posture and
deportment, leadership, and respect for and loyalty to constituted
authority…”
Members of A Company 1933
Photo from 1934 yearbook cover
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1931 - 1945
Top: The Battalion pauses for
“Taps” during the 1939 Armistice
Parade
Right: D Company on the march
during the parade
Cadet Captain William Walz
inspects D Company in 1940
Sponsors 1942
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1946 - 1960
In the post-war years the
cadet population fell below
200 for the first time since
1926, and in 1950 the corps
was reorganized into a
battalion. In 1952 the
community reaffirmed the
importance of ROTC at
Leavenworth by erecting a
9,800 sq. ft. building
exclusively for the cadets’
use—complete with a five-
point firing range. Once
again ROTC cadets would
need to use their skills
following graduation—this
time in Korea.
Queen’s Manual Drill Team 1952
The battalion in 1953
Color Guard 1954
The Field House was the home of the JROTC from 1920
until 1952, when the battalion moved to their new armory
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1946 - 1960
President Truman
presents a shooting
award in 1958.
The Armory became the new home of JROTC in 1952
17 years before females were
officially allowed to join, the
JROTC established a girls’ rifle
team in 1958
C Company 1958
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1961 - 1974
The sixties brought some changes to
the corps of cadets. The Cadet
Rangers, the precursor to today’s
Raider team, was established in
1961. Enrollment in the program
grew, reaching nearly 400 cadets in the
1964-65 school year. This increase
led to another reorganization as the
corps became a brigade with two
battalions of three companies
each. The late sixties also began the
trend of national dominance by the
rifle team, as in 1967 they won the
first of 25 national shooting titles.
Rangers 1961
Inspection 1963
Miss America Parade 1966
Staff and Sponsors 1963
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1961 - 1974
Veterans Day Parade 1966
Clockwise from top
left: Honor Guard
performs at St. Joseph
1969; Saber Guard
arch during
Homecoming 1969;
Color Guard during
1972 Veterans Day
Parade; Uniform
Fitting 1974
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1975 - 1999
In 1976, the program became
an elective and was opened to
female enrollment. Many
ROTC alumni and community
members decried the end of
mandatory enrollment for
sophomore boys, claiming that
the program would cease to
exist without this
requirement. This prediction
turned out to be false, as the
program flourished under the
new guidelines. Female
enrollment nearly equaled the
male losses, and females quickly
occupied leadership
positions. In three years, the
first female Brigade
Commander was named.
Cadets at Fort Leonard
Wood Summer Camp 1975
Sandy Lassetter is
among 10 female
cadets in the program
in 1975. This number
would grow to 67 the
next year
Jim Green appears
before the school
board during 1975
hearings on making
JROTC an elective
Heidi Haight is named
JROTC Brigade Commander
in 1979, the first female to
hold this position
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 1975 - 1999
The Cadet Chorus was added to the
program in 1982
The Rifle Team celebrates one of their
many National Championships in 1986-87
1989 Sponsors sing National Anthem
at Awards NightHonor Guard without weapons 1996
1997 Rangers
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 2000-2009
Rangers surprise the quiet crowd during the 2000 ROTC
Assembly by riding around and honking their horns
Cadets Model different kind of fatigues during the
Veteran’s day parade in 2004
2004 Junior Guard Cadets posting the colors during
the annual Junior Guard meet, which began in 2000
The new century included a
mix of old and new. The
past was honored with the
installation of a Hall of
Fame and the 100th Military
Ball, while new events and
facilities were added to an
already stellar program.
Military Hall of Fame induction ceremony 2007
Yellow Legs of Cavalry perform
during the 2001 assembly
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 2000-2009
Colors being presented at a Kansas City
Royals game in 2009
Organization
Day 2009
Jacob Gardner cuts the cake at the 100th Annual
Military Ball in 2009
2008 was the
first year of the
LHS Car Show
The LHS Obstacle Course was installed in 2007
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 2010 - 2016
In 2015, the cadets helped Leavenworth High School celebrate their
150th anniversary, paying the school back for the support it has given
to the program for more than a century.
Cadets form the number ‘150’ before marching across the field through the band
The Cannon Crew
first appeared at
home football
games in 2010
Battalion Staff
sprints to
Outhouse
Race victory
during 2015
Buffalo Bill
Days
E Co 2013
Raiders attack the PTT event at nationals 2016
LEAVENWORTH CADETS 2010 - 2016
The drill teams earned seven national drill
trophies since 2010. In 2016 the Cavalry
Angels placed second in Exhibition Drill and
earned top honors in Unarmed Dual
Exhibition and Individual Drill Down during
the Army National Drill Competition.
Carissa Cunningham
receives the 2nd place
trophy for unarmed
exhibition drill
Scenes from the 2016
Military Appreciation
Pre-Game Ceremonies
The rifle team shooting at the state meet in 2015. The Sporter Class team
qualified for nationals in 2016, the first time for an LHS team since 1998
Raider teams now regularly place in
the top 5 in various events at Raider
Nationals. Here is the female team
in 2016.
Cadets rappel off the
practice field retaining
wall in the Spring and Fall
The Junior ROTC Cadet Creed
I am an Army Junior ROTC Cadet.
I will always conduct myself to bring
credit to my family, country, school and
the Corps of Cadets.
I am loyal and patriotic. I am the future
of the United States of America.
I do not lie, cheat or steal and will
always be accountable for my actions
and deeds.
I will always practice good citizenship
and patriotism.
I will work hard to improve my mind and
strengthen my body.
I will seek the mantle of leadership
and stand prepared to uphold the
Constitution and the American way of
life.
May God grant me the strength to
always live by this creed.