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LEGACY GATE
Welcome!
This is a behind-the-scenes look at the heart, purpose, and vision behind honoring 1SG Wayne Cogdill’s legacy—and an opportunity to help bring it to life. Thank you for being here and for considering how you might join us in this effort.
When asked ‘why’ I wanted to make this project idea a reality, I thought of the word ‘Legacy.'
Our family is not a military one, but we have always been service member supporters.
My wife, Heather, and I never really expected any of our kids to be involved in the JROTC program, but
now we can hardly imagine our lives without it, and more importantly, without 1SG WayneCogdill.
WHY THIS MATTERS
One of our first experiences with the program included two simple words: “Fired Up” uttered from the mouth of the man whom I consider to be the most influential person within the Leavenworth school district. 1SG is a teacher, coach, mentor, leader…he IS Fired Up. He has
helped mold all of our kids into better humans.
Our kids enroll in JROTC for many different reasons. It requires hard work and discipline. 1SG demands effort, integrity, and the best from our kids. As a result, his Raider teams have won six National Championships and the Pioneer Guard has been considered top tier within the community. More important than these championship titles and notoriety though, 1SG has helped mold the young men and women in his charge into future leaders for our country.
Specifically, 1SG has made our Leavenworth Raider program one of the elite programs in the country. I can not think of a more appropriate way to honor this man and his nonstop efforts to improve the lives of his cadets than to name the Raider course in his honor. Many things come and go, but ‘Legacy’ will remain. Every young person who enters the Raider course going forward will know, this is not just an ordinary obstacle course…this is where 1SG built a JROTC dynasty…this is Legacy…this is FIRED UP!
Please consider helping us honor the man who gives everything he has for our kids!
Sincerely,
Christopher Smith
Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
Email smithscapelv@outlook.com
Phone 940-597-0119 (text preferred)
#RAIDERCOGDILLCOURSE #LEGACYGATE
“It’s all about the kids.” 1SG Wayne Cogdill
For nearly two decades, First Sergeant (Ret.) Wayne Cogdill has been one of the most influential youth leaders in the Leavenworth community and in the national JROTC landscape. Through the Raider Team, Pioneer Guard Armed Drill Team, Delta Company at Leavenworth High School, Warren Leadership Academy at Warren Middle School, the Annual Mini Raider Bootcamp, and the Amanda Holmes 5K, he has shaped the character, confidence, and futures of thousands of young men and women.
To the students who train under him, he is more than an instructor.
He is a mentor, a coach, a builder of leaders, and one of the most steady forces for good they will ever encounter.
Please read below to learn more about 1SG Cogdill's work, why, and how we invite you to join us in order to honor him in a meaningful way.
A Leader Who Builds Excellence Through Grit
1SG Cogdill is known across the nation for producing elite JROTC cadets — young men and women who embody discipline, resilience, humility, and a relentless commitment to improvement. But he is equally known for the heart that drives his work. He tells his cadets every year: “Winning isn’t just about trophies. It’s about the work you’re willing to do.”
For 1SG, victory is never measured only in medals. It is measured in effort, in growth, in the moment a student realizes they are capable of more than they ever believed. His expectations are high — not because he is hard on kids, but because he believes in them fiercely.
That belief has changed lives.
THE RAIDERS
Strength. Grit. Teamwork. National Champions.
Under 1SG’s guidance, the Leavenworth Raider Team has become one of the most respected and successful programs in the nation.
Raiders compete in some of the most demanding JROTC events in America:
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5K team runs
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Rope bridge construction and crossing
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Cross-country rescue
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The Gauntlet - obstacle course
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Battle Fit Challenge - Strength and endurance events
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PTT - Tactical challenges requiring teamwork and toughness
The Raider Challenge is not just a competition — it is an ordeal of physical power, teamwork, discipline, and mental endurance. And under 1SG’s leadership, Leavenworth has risen from an unknown to national dominance.
His teams have earned 6 national championship titles, with a historic double-championship year in 2024 when both the male and female teams won 1st place in the nation. The program’s ascent mirrors 1SG’s relentless pursuit of excellence.
What sets his Raiders apart?
They train as they fight.
They don’t just prepare for obstacles — they build them.
They don’t make excuses — they solve problems.
They don’t quit — ever.
Ask any Raider what defines 1SG’s team, and they’ll tell you:
“The standard never changes.”
Drill Teams: Precision. Discipline. Leadership in Motion.
Parallel to the physical intensity of the Raiders, 1SG leads another powerhouse program: the Pioneer Guard Armed and Cavalry Angels Drill Teams.
These elite teams compete in Armed Regulation, Armed Inspection, Armed Exhibition, Armed Color Guard (all Pioneer Guard) and Cavalry Angels- compete in Unarmed Regulation, Unarmed Inspection, Unarmed Exhibition, Color Guard, and Armed Solo Exhibition, and Dual Exhibition (both Armed and Unarmed)— events that demand precision, timing, discipline, and trust.
Drill is a proving ground for leadership. Cadets rise before the sun to practice daily. Solo and Dual Exhibition performers begin training at 5:00 AM, with the full team joining for practice at 5:45 AM every school day. Monthly Saturday practices and weekly evening training sessions add even more hours — time that 1SG willingly volunteers because, in his words, “It’s all about the kids.”
Under his leadership, Pioneer Guard and Cavalry Angels have grown from a respected program into national contenders. In 2025, the Pioneer Guard team earned 2nd place in the Nation, marking the highest finish in program history and solidifying their place among the top drill teams in the country.
But the true strength of Pioneer Guard is not medals — it is the culture.
Discipline. Power. Excellence.
1SG empowers cadets to lead and gives them freedom to be creative, especially in exhibition drill where routines demand innovation and confidence.
The Drill teams don't just perform — they embody precision and power.
THE MINI RAIDER BOOTCAMP
Inspiring the Next Generation
In 2010, 1SG launched one of Leavenworth’s most beloved traditions: the Mini Raider Bootcamp, held annually on the first Saturday of September. Designed for K–8 students, the event mirrors the Raider Course with scaled-down obstacles, teamwork challenges, and high-energy activity.
Hundreds of families attend each year. And every year, the message is the same: you can do more than you think you can.
The Mini Bootcamp is a celebration of community, perseverance, and the joy of discovering strength — all values 1SG has spent his life passing on to future generations.
THE AMANDA HOLMES MEMORIAL 5K AND SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Honoring Legacy Through Leadership
1SG also runs the Amanda Holmes Memorial 5K, honoring former cadet and Raider Amanda Holmes, who tragically passed away at age 18. Known for her spirit, leadership, and passion for life, Amanda embodied everything the program strives to teach.
He established the Amanda Holmes Memorial Scholarship, which awards up to $1,000 to cadets who demonstrate leadership, athletic achievement, character, and a passion for life.
The 5K draws hundreds of participants each year and serves as a deeply meaningful reminder that the Raider community is a family — one that stands together through triumph and tragedy.
TEACHER, MENTOR, AND BUILDER OF LEADERS
Delta Company & Warren Leadership Academy
Beyond coaching, 1SG is a full-time JROTC instructor responsible for Delta Company at Leavenworth High School. He also oversees the Warren Leadership Academy at Warren Middle School, where high school cadets teach younger students, focusing on discipline, respect, teamwork, and character.
This unique leadership pipeline — middle school to high school, cadet-led but 1SG-guided — is one of the strongest in the region and exists because of his dedication.
He has spent nearly twenty years transforming schools, starting in Clinton, Missouri, before bringing his vision, expertise, and heart to Leavenworth. The number of lives he has impacted is immeasurable.
THE PROJECT
Honoring a Legacy of Leadership
This iron entry arch will stand at the entrance of the Leavenworth High School JROTC Raider Course as a permanent tribute to First Sergeant Wayne Cogdill (Ret.), a leader whose impact on students, families, and the broader Leavenworth community spans decades.
Designed as a bold yet timeless structure, the arch bears the name Cogdill Raider Course, marking the gateway to a place where grit is built, confidence is earned, and young leaders are forged. For generations of cadets, this course has represented challenge, discipline, teamwork, and personal growth—values that 1SG Cogdill has consistently modeled and instilled throughout his career.
This is more than a sign.
It is a statement of gratitude.
A Marker of Legacy
And a lasting investment in the young men and women who will train beneath it for years to come.
Your support helps ensure that leadership, service, and excellence are not only taught—but visibly honored.
HONOR A PROVEN LEGACY
This entry arch will become a reality only with the support of the Leavenworth community and all who have witnessed firsthand the impact of First Sergeant Wayne Cogdill (Ret.).
Our goal is to complete the Cogdill Raider Course arch by Spring 2026. The total cost to fabricate and install the arch is $22,000. Every dollar raised will go directly toward bringing this vision to life. Should donations exceed the cost of the arch, any remaining funds will be donated to the Amanda Holmes Scholarship Fund, extending the project's impact by supporting students beyond the Raider Course and into their future educational pursuits.
1SG Cogdill has created a legacy through decades of service to students, teams, and families. This arch will exist to honor him and carry on his legacy for future generations in a visible, lasting way.
If the community responds with the same commitment and heart that 1SG Cogdill has shown year after year, this project will be completed on schedule.
Please consider donating and sharing this project with others who value leadership, service, and investing in the next generation.
Together, we can honor a legacy that has already shaped so many lives.
Ways to Give
We are grateful for every individual, family, alumnus, and business that chooses to be part of honoring this legacy. To make giving simple and appropriate for different supporters, we have provided two donation options below. Please select the option that best fits how you would like to participate.
All donations are tax-deductible.
Feel free to reach out to Christopher Smith if you have any questions.
Email smithscapelv@outlook.com
Phone 940-597-0119 (text preferred)
