MMA Honors Cadets During 2025–26 JROTC Awards Assembly

The 2025–26 Missouri Military Academy Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) Awards Assembly was held on Wednesday, April 29, in Memorial Chapel. Cadets, coaches, faculty, staff and families gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of the Academy's Army JROTC Raiders, Fusileers drill team, rifle team and Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS) competitors.

Throughout the evening, cadets were recognized for athletic achievement, leadership, teamwork and dedication during the JROTC season. The assembly also included the presentation of annual JROTC leadership awards and AMCUS competition honors.

Scroll down for a full recap of cadet recognitions and awards.

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Raiders

Team Captain Beckett Sears led the presentation of Raiders awards alongside Coach 1SG Blue and CW4 Landrum. Cadets received varsity and junior varsity letters, along with Raiders team ribbons and arcs.

Varsity Letter Winners: Cadets Enkhtenger Altangerel, Enkh-Ireedui Altangerel, Batbayasgalan Baterdene, Todbileg Boldbataar, Daniel Bravo, Rfred Cordero, Trevor Garrison, Archer Gober, Caden Grace, Grayson Hanson, Deonte Kerns, Tyler Knight, Creed Martin, Jordan Milzark, Leonard Morales, Nyamdava, Manuel Obergon, William Pennington, Emilio Perez, Clayton Reich, Luis Rey, Jesus Robinson, Dario Rodriguez, Beckett Sears, Christopher Song, Jacob Stallone, Duane Thompson, John Trippe, Connor Upton, David Woodcock and Angel Zamudio

Managers

• Cadets Ulis Gordon and Gunnar Ward

Junior Varsity Letter Winners: Cadets Riyadh Avdic, Santiago Lopez, Max Stuemer and David Smolek

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Cadet Enkhtenger Altangerel receives Raiders recognition from Coach 1SG Blue during the 2025–26 JROTC Sports Assembly.

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Fusileers Drill Team

Fusileers Drill Team Captain Duane Thompson presented awards alongside Coach Traevonne Smith and 1SG Scarlet. Cadets earned varsity letters, Drill Team ribbons and Drill Team arcs.

Varsity Letter Winners: Cadets Aaden Bado, Kennedy Barchigei, Daniel Bravo, Tegan Compton, Rfred Cordero, Alex Johnson, Tru Jones, Santiago Lopez, Creed Martin, Bryce McIllwain, Alvaro Orendian, River Punab-Mitchell, Clayton Reich, Jesus Robinson, Beckett Sears, Duane Thompson and John Trippe

Special Awards

• Outstanding First Year Fusileer: Cadet Tegan Compton
• Fusileer of the Year: Cadet Duane Thompson

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Cadet Tegan Compton receives Outstanding First Year Fusileer honors from 1SG Christopher Scarlet (left) and Coach Traevonne Smith (right).

Cadet Duane Thompson receives Fusileer of the Year honors from 1SG Christopher Scarlet (left) and Coach Traevonne Smith (right).

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Rifle Team

Rifle Team Captain William Larson recognized varsity and junior varsity cadets for their accomplishments during the season alongside Coach CPT Balvanz and CW4 Landrum.

Varsity Letter Winners: Cadets Carter Cole, Frederico Cordero, Ryan Derstein, Thomas Fitzsimmons, Charles Heady, Tru Jones, Eli Lamb, William Larson, Robert Shepard, Bret Sietsema, Duane Thompson and John Trippe

Junior Varsity Letter Winners: Cadets Enkh-Ireedui Altangerel, Emilio Anaya, YiChen Chen, Nicholas Kavalenka, Ethan Levey, Leonardo Morales, Alvaro Orendain, Christopher Phelan, Gunner Ward and Heshun Xiao

Special Recognition

• Cadet Sean Mumm was recognized for his service as the Rifle Team’s stats officer.

The Rifle Team also earned numerous honors throughout the season, including top finishes at the Willard Navy JROTC Virtual Match, Ozark Tiger Classic, Webb City Turkey Shoot Championships and JROTC All-Service Sectionals.

Alvin Brinton Top Shot Award

• Senior Veteran Top Shot: Cadet Robert Shepard
• Freshman Rookie Top Shot: Cadet Federico Cordero

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Cadet Federico Cordero receives Alvin Brinton Top Shot Rookie honors from CW4 Landrum.

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JROTC End-of-Year Awards

MMA President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret.), and Major Welander presented the Academy’s annual JROTC leadership and achievement awards.

Award Recipients

• General Douglas MacArthur Award — Cadet Duane Thompson
• Military Officers Association of America Award — Cadet Eric Shellabarger
• Military Order of the Purple Heart Leadership Award — Cadet Ulis Gordon
• National Sojourners Award — Cadet Gunner Ward
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Award — Cadet Aaden Bado
• American Veterans Medal – Military Excellence Award — Cadet William Larson
• Special Forces Association Award — Cadet Luis Rey
• Daedalians JROTC Medal — Cadet Eric Shellabarger
• Military Order of the World Wars Award — Cadet John Trippe
• Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Award — Cadet Duane Thompson

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Cadet Eric Shellabarger receives the Military Officers Association of America Award from MAJ Wayne Welander, USA (Ret) (left) and Academy President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret.) (right).

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Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS) Awards

Cadets were also recognized for their accomplishments in the 2025 AMCSUS competitions.

Team Honors

• High School PT Challenge — 2nd Place
• High School Drill Team — 2nd Place
• Academic Bowl Team — 3rd Place

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Cadets Christopher Song, Kim Ho Liu, John Shadonix and Heshun Xiao are recognized for earning 3rd Place in the AMCUS Academic Bowl competition alongside Academy President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret.).

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Academy President BG Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret.), concluded the evening with remarks recognizing the commitment, discipline and teamwork demonstrated throughout the JROTC season.

Congratulations to all cadets recognized during the 2025–2026 JROTC Sports Assembly.

See more photos on Flickr.