JROTC battalion commander Olivia Talbert recently spoke about her experience in the US Army Nationals.

The Warren County JROTC Pioneer Raider team has been training for US Army Nationals since early June and finally competed in early November and did well.

“US Army Nationals was one of the highlights for our Raider team. We pushed really hard to get to where we are and this weekend shows how much time and dedication we put into our training. I am extremely proud of my women’s team as well as the men’s and mixed team, ”said Talbert.

Talbert led the women’s team which placed second in the small units division.

“When the women were finalists for the small division, I realized that it was what it was to love something to the point of making it a life. The team did and our ambitions took us through four foot deep mud pits and up eight foot walls, ”she said.

Talbert also competed in the Ultimate Raider category at the event. She said the training they went through helped them do so well in this huge competition.

“We Raiders bit and scratched tooth and nail in training and we certainly did at nationals,” said Talbert.

Everyone supported each other a lot during the tournament and encouraged each other. Talbert said when they announced the men’s team won fifth place in the Rope Bridge completion that she was so proud of them. She said she thinks every Raider who took part would agree it was a tough but good weekend.

“The Nationals have been one of the toughest but best weekends I have ever had and I’m sure every other Raider would say the same,” she said.

Talbert is a senior this year and previously led the women’s team to their first-ever trophy by placing third in the cross-country rescue competition at the Soddy Daisy JROTC Raider meet in October.