For the first time in its 13-year history, Peachtree Ridge High School’s Navy JROTC squad qualified for the 2022 NJROTC Nationals in Pensacola, Florida, and while the Lions Battalion finished 21st out of 27 schools, it’s likely the team will be heard from again in the coming years.

“We’re in a region that includes all of Georgia and Northeast Florida and consists of 61 teams and we were one of three schools in our region to go this year,” said Commander Jimmy Melton, the program’s senior naval science instructor, who added that Peachtree Ridge was joined by fellow region members South Effingham High School and Florida’s Nease High School. “This was our first year to make it. It’s really competitive and there are teams from all over the nation.”