Cadets from the Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) participated in the third round of CyberPatriot, the national computer security competition on December 7, 2014. Cadets assume the role of a computer security manager, trying to stop the hacking and possible destruction of a computer network. This is the round that determines if the team will progress on to the regional elimination round, and ultimately to go to Washington, D.C., for the national championship. The team is composed of Cadets Captain Alex Wyman, Sergeant Colin Catlin, and Lance Corporals Ben Boyd, Nate Heim, Mason Struppa, and Corey Witmer.
The Faculty Advisor for the team, Mr. Ralph Gee, noted the progress made from last year to this year. “The cadets had their best round in two years during the last round, stopping 50 % of the attacks. I think that shows the improvement we are making to compete with the national-caliber schools.” Mr. Gee is the Engineering and Technology instructor at MCHS.
Major Tom McGrath, the Senior Marine Instructor, commended the cadets for their dedication to this extracurricular activity. “These cadets helped set-up for One City, One Sound (the school district Christmas Concert) on Wednesday after school, put everything away after the concert on Thursday night, and now are here on a Friday night doing CyberPatriot. They are hard working cadets who do much for our school district and our school.”
Master Sergeant Jeff Benak, the Marine Instructor, also had high praise for the cadets’ ability to balance multiple tasks. “They are also outstanding students, who also give their all in the classroom.”
McGrath is hoping that all team members, with the exception of senior Wyman, will be able to attend the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics camp next summer in Charleston, SC, to strengthen their computer defense skills. The camp will be fully funded by the U.S. Marine Corps, with no cost to the school district or cadets.
The cadets will be busy right up to the Christmas break, with two military drill competitions and numerous Christmas programs at local elementary schools, where they are providing support.