Submitted by: MAJ (Ret.) Micah A. Ray Sr.

HOUSTON, TX — To quote the great professional wrestler, Nature Boy Ric Flair, “To be the man, you have to beat the man!” The Sam Houston Army JROTC 1st Battalion Black Knights set out this year to dethrone the champions from last year, and they have now been proven to be successful.

24 JROTC programs all started the SY 22-23 with a clean slate, all knowing the path to being crowned the champion. The Black Knights planned and executed a masterful campaign to be the best they could possibly be in every competition. With support from drill coaches, the American Legion Post 586, the VFW Post 581, AUSA, the Field Force representing the United States Military Academy at West Point, and of course Dr. Linares and his administration, the Black Knights locked in with a common goal, and then accomplished that goal.

The goal for next year is repeat as champions and work with other programs to elevate all HISD’s JROTC programs.

Click here to read more stories about the The Black Knights in their newsletter, “The Black Knights’ Sword”.

C/Major and incoming 1st Battalion Commander Jai Nava smiles as she now inherits the responsibility to defend the Superintendent’s Cup for SY 23-24.
Dr. Diego Linares, Sam Houston MSTC Principal, accepted the Superintendent’s Cup along with Cadet Staff Sergeant Angel Bustillo, SFC (Ret) Barry Page and MAJ (Ret) Micah Ray.

Creek Wood High School: Cadet honors Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

December 15th, 2025|Comments Off on Creek Wood High School: Cadet honors Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Cadet Mallerie Goulding (Photo by Jodi Orman) Written by Ronald Schlangen Cadet Mallerie Goulding of the Red Hawk Battalion recently experienced one of the nation's most profound honors when she was selected to lay a [...]

Howard High School: Cadets win first at regulation drill competition

December 15th, 2025|Comments Off on Howard High School: Cadets win first at regulation drill competition

Howard High School Army JROTC Lions Battalion celebrates their success at the Dec. 6 Atholton Drill Competition with an impressive display of teamwork and precision. (Photo by Cadets Iliana Gaitan-McCastle and Biak Tial) Written by [...]

Ansbach High School: Cadet embraces leadership opportunities

December 15th, 2025|Comments Off on Ansbach High School: Cadet embraces leadership opportunities

Cadet Kennedy Lange (Photo by Madonna Roberts, Senior Army Instructor) Written by Cadet Marley Shackleton Cadet Kennedy Lange, an Army JROTC Cadet from Ansbach High School, received the distinct honor of attending two leadership programs [...]