Three Kellogg High School Marine Corps JROTC cadets returned from Southern California this summer having completed one of the most demanding youth leadership programs in the country — the Devil Pups Encampment at Camp Pendleton.
Alex Cassidy, Katie Cassidy, and Piper Hendrix made the trip in July, spending 10 days on the sprawling 125,000-acre Marine Corps installation as part of a program that has shaped young Americans for more than seven decades.
A Program Built on Citizenship and Grit
The Devil Pups Youth Program traces its roots to 1954, when retired Marine Corps Reserve officers under the leadership of Col. A. Duncan Shaw established it with a clear purpose: build character, foster patriotism, and develop citizenship in young people. Originally limited to boys, the program opened its doors to girls in 1998. Since its founding, more than 55,000 participants have completed the encampment.
The 10-day program is not a casual summer camp experience. Participants face a physically and mentally demanding schedule designed to push them beyond their comfort zones — a reality the Kellogg cadets discovered quickly after arriving in California.
The encampment culminates with a climb to Ole Smokey, the highest peak on the Marine Corps base. Upon reaching the summit, each participant receives a challenge coin from their instructors — a tangible mark of what they earned through the week and a half of hard work.
Silver Valley Cadets Rise to the Challenge
For Katie Cassidy, the mental battle was as significant as the physical one. As first reported by the Shoshone News-Press, she described the hardest part of the encampment as fighting the urge to quit. “The thing that challenged me the most was the thought of giving up,” Katie told the outlet. “I had to change that mindset because right before we got on the plane, Piper and I made a promise to each other that we were going to get through this together.”
That mutual commitment carried both cadets through the toughest moments of the program — and reflects the kind of accountability and perseverance that military-style training is specifically designed to cultivate.
Alex Cassidy, meanwhile, demonstrated the discipline and initiative that JROTC programs aim to develop in young people with an eye toward leadership. All three cadets returned to Kellogg with not just a challenge coin, but elevated roles within the program.
Following their completion of the encampment, Katie Cassidy will serve as platoon commander, Alex Cassidy will take on the role of company first sergeant, and Piper Hendrix will serve as program executive officer — positions that put them in a direct mentorship role over younger cadets in the Silver Valley program.
Sgt. Maj. Jeff Smith, the senior Marine instructor at Kellogg High School, said the cadets’ performance reflects a broader truth about what dedicated young people can accomplish. “Katie, Alex, and Piper are a testament to the success kids can see when they work hard,” he told the Shoshone News-Press.
Their achievement is another example of Shoshone County youth stepping up in ways that bring credit to the Silver Valley. Just this summer, the Wallace Elks Drum and Bugle Corps also returned with honors after a competitive trip to Montana — a reminder that Silver Valley young people are making their mark well beyond the county line.
What Comes Next
With the encampment behind them and leadership roles ahead, Alex, Katie, and Piper are expected to take on greater responsibilities within the Kellogg High School JROTC program when the new school year gets underway. Their roles as platoon commander, first sergeant, and executive officer will give them daily opportunities to pass on what they learned at Camp Pendleton to the next generation of cadets in the program.
For families and community members who want to learn more about Kellogg’s JROTC program, Sgt. Maj. Smith’s office at Kellogg High School is the primary point of contact. The Devil Pups program itself continues to accept applications from young people across the country each year.