ORANGE PARK — For the second consecutive year, Ridgeview High Navy Junior ROTC Cadet Lt. Cmdr. Raelynn Walker brought home the Honor Platoon award from Leadership Academy and the Basic Leadership Training Course.

On Saturday, June 15, NJROTC Areas 8, 9 and 10 held its annual Leadership Academy Graduation in Gainesville, Georgia, with 300 cadets from 84 high schools in the Southeastern region of the United States attending this intensive 7-day leadership course.

Last year, Cadet Walker was one of four cadets chosen from Ridgeview to attend. This year, she returned as one of four female cadres from Area 10 to lead a platoon of 24 cadets. As Platoon Mentor, she motivated and inspired her cadets to excel while actively serving as Company Commander for one of the four companies.

Because of her attention to detail and thorough preparation of her cadets, this outstanding young woman’s platoon won every platoon award except one and was awarded the Honor Platoon.

During the Area NJROTC Basic Leadership Training Course last summer held at Camp Blanding, Walker’s platoon also earned the Honor Platoon distinction. Next month, she will return to Camp Blanding as the commanding officer of basic leadership training. She has proven herself to be a superb leader in all respects.

Walker was promoted to Cadet Lt. Cmdr. in May and was selected as the coming school year’s Commanding Officer of Ridgeview’s NJROTC Unit. She was also selected to attend the Naval Academy Summer Seminar and is on track to earn an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy and become a naval officer.