East Union High School’s JROTC Academic Team has earned a spot at the 2026 JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl (JLAB) in Washington, D.C.

The Lancers are among the top 32 academic teams in the nation, and one of just three high schools representing California.

JLAB is one of the most prestigious academic and leadership competitions for JROTC cadets, designed to promote scholarship, teamwork, leadership, and service. Each year, thousands of teams compete in a series of online rounds, with only a select few advancing to the national championship.

This year’s East Union team — Commander Camden Collier, Assistant Commander Mikayla Castle, cadet Keira Schumacher, and cadet Darren Cervantes — secured their place after advancing through two highly competitive phases that tested both academic knowledge and leadership under pressure.

While many people associate JROTC with physical training and drill, the Academic Team offers a different kind of challenge, one that is driven by knowledge, focus, and mental endurance.

“A lot of people see JROTC as very physical — Raiders, drill, color guard — and those teams are incredible at what they do,” said Assistant Commander Mikayla Castle. “But Academic is completely different. It’s all brainpower. “

“This team has really shown us what our brains are capable of,” she added. “The amount of context, literature, and math we’ve had to learn is honestly astonishing. It’s taught all of us how much we can grow, and how dedication and studying together can really push you further than you think.”

For the Lancers, qualifying for nationals was not guaranteed.

After falling just short of last year’s qualification, returning cadets Collier and Castle used the experience as motivation to approach the competition differently this time around.

As leaders of this student organization, they focused on bringing in new teammates, strengthening collaboration, and committing to a more present and structured practice plan.

Balancing academics, leadership responsibilities, extracurricular activities, and participation across multiple JROTC teams is no small task.

To make it work, East Union’s Academic Team shifted to a virtual training model, meeting daily for nearly two hours to study, review material, and sharpen their teamwork.

For Commander Collier, that commitment to studying has extended into the classroom as well.

“I’ve never really been someone things came easy to,” Collier said. “I’ve always had to study for everything and work for the grades I wanted. Being part of this team helped me find people willing to study together and really focus. It’s made a difference across all my classes — French, math, English — everything.”

Commander Collier is a testament that through programs like JROTC, these daily practices become more than competitive preparation for students.

JLAB challenges students across core subjects including math, science, and language arts, while also incorporating questions on current events and critical thinking. Success requires more than just knowing the answers, it takes working together, quick thinking, and confidence as a team. Their commitment to this year’s team has paid off, with 2026 marking the third time in program history that East Union’s JROTC Academic Team has qualified for the national championship.

Previous Lancer teams have set a strong precedent with a top-13 finish in 2024 and a top-8 finish in 2021.

This year’s team now looks to build on that legacy while representing East Union High School and Manteca Unified on a national stage.

As they prepare to travel to D.C., the Lancers continue balancing their training, classes, leadership responsibilities, and everyday commitments. JROTC continues to change student lives and improve student outcomes through the experiences and challenges faced in every memorable journey.