FFC8 JROTC

Fountain-Fort Carson Army JROTC All-Service National Championships & U.S. Army Service National Championship.

CAMP PERRY, OHIO — March 2026 — The Fountain-Fort Carson Army JROTC Rifle Team delivered an exceptional performance at the 2026 JROTC All-Service National Championships, earning a 3rd Place National Finish among the top programs from across all military service branches.  In addition, the team took First Place for the 4th year in a row in the U.S. Army Service National Championship.

Competing at the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Gary Anderson Competition Center, Fountain-Fort Carson posted a team score of 4660-293 center shots finishing just behind Floyd Central High School (Indiana) and Granbury High School (Texas) in one of the most competitive national fields in recent years.

The national level finish highlights the program’s continued excellence and consistency on the national stage.  This was the team’s 10th year in a row to compete in the National Championship and represent the U.S. Army on the National Stage.

Fountain-Fort Carson placed three athletes in the Top 20 out of 86, with Kelsey Dardas finishing in 5th overall and advancing and competing among the top 8 of the nation’s best high school rifle athletes.

Individual Qualification Scores
• Kelsey Dardas— 1184 (5th overall) (1st Place Army)
• Tucker Combs — 1167 (17th overall) (4th Place Army)
• Simone Dorsey — 1166 (19th overall) (5th Place Army)
• Elaina Perez- 1143

The 2026 national 3rd place finish caps off a dominant season for the Fountain-Fort Carson Army JROTC Rifle Team, which included top finishes at major competitions leading into the national championship to include the Colorado State Championship and U.S. Army Service National Championship.

From early qualification matches through Service Championships and into the national stage, the team demonstrated consistency, resilience, and elite marksmanship. 

“OUR team this year and in years past has strived to build a program that demonstrates our student’s ability to be strong academically, mentally disciplined, self-accountable, and a commitment to excellence beyond their peers,” Coach Smith said.

Last weekend, the Drill team went to Mesa Ridge HS to compete at their first competition of the season. In the unarmed exhibition category they placed 1st, in color guard they placed 3rd, and for armed exhibition they placed 1st as well. Finally, in inspection they placed 3rd. Way to go Trojans!
(image description: Cadets going through the different stages of a drill competition including standing in various formations with and without rifles, as well as a team of 4 Cadets holding flags)

Fountain Fort Carson High School U.S. Army JROTC Precision Rifle Team wins BIG in the SCOPOS National Air Rifle League. The Team won 1st Place among Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force JROTC programs across the nation during this National Match Series of Competitions. Congratulations to the athletes for all their hard work. The next match is the U.S. Army Service Championship in Sandy, Utah.
(image description: the Rifle Team showing the awards they won)

Last weekend, JROTC Cadets assisted the Trojan Swim and Dive Team in hosting a large meet by timing races and inputting data. Way to help out your fellow Trojans.
(image description: JROTC Cadets timing the Swim and Dive team)

Thanksgiving Newsletter: Upcoming Events: 12/3 CMS Christmas Concert ,12/4 COTM Board , and 12/6 10SFG Christmas Party Support. Overview of previous months 10/16-17 Haunted House ,10/31 EFMP Trunk or Treat Support September: 09/13 Cross Country Volunteer ,09/22 Academic Award Ceremony CG , 09/22 Foster The Future 5k ,9/12 Special Teams Events Football Color guard ,09/19 Football Color guard , 10/9 MA Football Color Guard,10/15 MA Softball Color Guard , 10/24 Football Color Guard , Oct/28 MA Volleyball Game ,11/17 NHS Color Guard , 12/12 Canyon City Domination Turkey Shoot, 9/18 Upcoming:12/1-5 Rifle State ,12/7-12 Rifle RMR Cup,9/14 Raider Run For The Fallen,9/2 Pikes Peak Raider Comp,10/4 Kit Carson, 10/9 MA Raider Support ,10/11 Bataan Death March , 11/2 Denver Fitness 1 , 2/7 Denver Fitness 2 ,3/14 Denver Fitness 3 , Cadet of the month 2025- 2026 \Cadet of the Month is an award that recognizes a cadet from each LET level who has demonstrated outstanding performance in areas like leadership, academics, and military bearing. October, Allen, Lola Let 1 Cinkoskey, Addalyn Let 2 Kabia, Isaac Let 3 Owen, William Let 4 September Caron, Miliyah Let 1 Manglona, Hailey Let 2 Crawford, Brylie Let 3 Tapia, Daniel Let 4 November Benjamin, Gabriel Let 1 Cepeda, Jashae Let 2 NEXT COTM BOARD: December 11th

Our JROTC Drill Team had the privilege of presenting the flags at Wednesday's Military Appreciation Volleyball game. It's always a proud moment to stand tall and show our respect for those who serve and have served.

(Image Description: JROTC Cadets presenting the colors, volleyball players holding roses to give thanks to family service members.)

Thursday and Friday last week, our JROTC cadets came up from the dead to scare and spook other Trojan students at our School of Terror Haunted House! In addition to giving other students the heebie-jeebies, the Cadets also helped set up and put together the set to give our Trojans one night of a scare!
(Image description: ghosts scaring people as people laugh and scream, and zombies pop up from coffins.)

On Thursday the Fountain-Fort Carson JROTC Raiders helped support our football team during the military appreciation game by running out to the field and doing pushups every time out team scored a touchdown.
(Image description: Raiders doing pushups on the football field)

On Thursday the Fountain Fort Carson JROTC Color Guard Team presented the colors for our annual military appreciation game. Member of the football team ran out the six service flags one by one and delivered them to the color guard at center field.
(image description: The color guard presents the colors as the national anthem was played)

Congratulations to the rifle team! On September 27th, they went to a Pueblo West competition and really set the tone for this year.
Team one in precision won 1st place, including Daniels, Perez, Dardas, and Combs, scoring a total of 2309 points.
Team two in precision won 2nd place, including Brogan, Dorsey, Gamble, and Torres, scoring 2262 points.
The individual winners in this match for Precision: 1st place was Combs with 582 EIC points; 2nd place was Dardas with 500 points; and in 2nd place was Dorsey with 580 EIC points.
Combs was our precision center shot champion, Dorsey was our kneeling position champion, Perez was our prone position champion, and Combs was our standing position champion.
Our Sporters came to play! The Sporter team had Lopez, Sagez, Cassel, and Govea. The individual member was Alva.
Sporters took 6th place overall out of 17 teams and 1st place novice team with 1837 points. The top kneeling winner was Lopez with 178 points.
The top novice athlete was Lopez with 506 points total.
Well done Trojans!
(image description: The Cadets receiving their awards and the Cadets shooting on the field.)

Last weekend, our Raider Team competed at the Kit Carson Raider Meet! Competing with three strong teams, our general male team brought home 2nd place overall! Proud of our cadets for showing strength, teamwork, and determination throughout the day!

On Saturday, JROTC Cadets cheered runners on as school mascots for the Foster the Future 5k Fun Run. Cadets had a great time encouraging runners and entertaining the children.
(image description: cadets in mascot outfits hugging other people and giving them high fives)