The AREA 21 Leadership Academy is a leadership course which is held over summer break. Only the top 1% of cadets from every NJROTC unit are invited to attend. In order to complete this leadership course, each cadet must pass the Physical Fitness Test (PFT), pass the Personnel Inspection, learn and command a drill card, be nominated by the designated Platoon Commander, and pass the final written exam. The chosen cadets from our unit represented Canyon Hills High School through 5 rigorous days of constant training and lectures with other cadets from different schools across Southern California. Cadets arrived at Murrieta Mesa High School on an early Monday morning to stay there for the full week and graduate on the following Friday afternoon. Learning and working with other cadets and instructors from different schools, our cadets graduated with a certificate and prestigious leadership cord, and later came home with knowledge to take back and teach our unit for the next year. Congratulations to cadets Vance Cruz, Jayda Olvera, and Natasha Polendey for your hard work and efforts in completing this challenging course.