Twenty members of the Lebanon High School Jr. ROTC program were able to put what they've learned to use for the first time March 20-25.

The selected members participated in the annual leadership and adventure training camp at Camp Rilea near Seaside.

Sr. Army Instructor Lt. Col. Mark Smith said Lebanon was allocated about 20 spots at the camp.

The Jr. ROTC program is in its first year at LHS, Smith said.

About 275 individuals from nine or 10 high schools throughout Oregon and Washington attended the event.

Activities included an obstacle course, repelling from a 60-foot tower, helicopter-orientation rides, physical training, self defense, first-aid, map reading, land navigation and team building, Smith said.

Members of each school were separated into different companies with members of other schools for the competitions.

"Each company had several people from each school and the reason they do that is because they don't want

a competition between schools, but competition between these companies," Smith said.

Smith said that Lebanon did very well, considering this was its first true event.

"Our kids did very well and everybody learned a lot," Smith said. "I think they will do even better next year."

The kids will benefit from the experience, Smith said.

"They got to meet and work with people from other schools and it makes it more challenging," Smith said.

Smith said the Jr. ROTC program at LHS has about 75 members.