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.

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.)

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)