JROTC cadets compete at Hurlburt

Published Nov. 9, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Joe McFadden
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- More than 200 U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets executed drill procedures, competed in dress and appearance categories and visited with Air Commandos during the 16th Annual JROTC Drill Competition at a hangar at Hurlburt Field Nov. 6.

JROTC students from 12 high schools from throughout southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle participated in contests ranging from regulation drill, open ranks inspection and color guard. The 1st Special Operations Wing Honor Guard hosted the event, sponsored by the Air Force Association, for the cadets to show their skills learned while in class and gain insights from Airmen about military life.

"It took you weeks and months up to this point to get to today," said Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Arnold, 1st Special Operations Medical Group superintendent, while starting off the event. "Today, you guys are going to be charged with displaying the characteristics of professionalism, self-discipline, mental acuity, physical skill and teamwork, and I look forward to some great competition from you all."

The teams broke out into their respective groups to be judged by members of the base honor guard. Airmen evaluated each cadet's performance during the open ranks inspection and mentored them on military protocol.

The static display of CV-22 and AC-130 aircraft served as the backdrop for the competition, highlighting the assets that the home of the Air Commandos has to offer. Families and friends made the journey from the cadets' respective high schools and braved the cold November weather to cheer on their schools.

After the judges graded each school in the categories, they invited all cadets to partake in a drill competition where the slightest mistake in interpreting a command of execution or break in military bearing would remove a cadet from contention. The challenge soon narrowed down to three Air Force cadets who marched throughout the hangar in order to determine the winner.

Once completed, Col. Daniel Zook, 1st SOW vice commander and former ROTC cadet from the University of Akron in Ohio, took to the stage to congratulate the students for their efforts.

"I will tell you that to be in the ROTC and wearing the uniform as you are in this time in our nation's history is something you should take a lot of pride in," Colonel Zook said. "It makes the country better and our nation stronger, and each of you has represented your services and high schools extremely well. No matter what each of you do in your futures, whether you join the military, go to school, do both or do neither, what you learn here from each other and during your courses of study at your various schools and services will serve you very well the rest of your life."

Colonel Zook also handed out the award for best commander to Thomas Lewis of the Navy's JROTC program at Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola, Fla. The award is given to the cadet who displayed the highest degree of professionalism, technical proficiency and leadership to the judges.

For the best overall team at the competition, the all-female division of the Army JROTC program at Murphy High School in Mobile, Ala., took the top spot for the second year in a row. The program's male cadets competed in a similar competition held in Ocean Springs, Miss., the same day.

"We won last year but that was with the male drill team, too," said Marcella Griffin, JROTC cadet and commander. "This wasn't even our whole drill team, so we felt we had to come out here and try harder to get it again. And we did, and this is so amazing."

Cadet Griffin's joy at the win also carried through to her instructor, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Steve Garner.

"I'm extremely proud of them," Colonel Garner said. "And we love coming back here, too. This was very professional, well done and a lot of fun for the cadets to interact with evalutators and instructors. We have a lot of respect for the people at this Air Force base and appreciate all you do for us, too."

Competition Results

Overall competition
1st Place: (Army) Team A, Murphy High School, Mobile, Ala.
2nd Place: (Air Force) Walton High School, DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
3rd Place: (Air Force) Choctawhatchee High School, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

Best Commander
Thomas Lewis, Booker T. Washington High School, Pensacola, Fla.

Individual Drill
1st Place: Phillip Ruckel
2nd Place: Elizabeth Lovejoy
3rd Place: Michael Ferrera

Open ranks inspection
1st Place: (Army) James M. Tate High School, Cantonment, Fla.
2nd Place: (Army) Murphy High School, Mobile, Ala.
3rd Place: (Air Force) Walton High School, DeFuniak Springs, Fla.

Armed regulation drill
1st Place: (Navy) Booker T. Washington High School, Pensacola, Fla.
2nd Place: (Army) James M. Tate High School, Cantonment, Fla.
3rd Place: (Marine Corps.) A. Crawford Mosley High School, Lynn Haven, Fla.

Unarmed regulation drill
1st Place: (Air Force) Walton High School, DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
2nd Place: (Army) Murphy High School, Mobile, Ala.
3rd Place: (Army) James M. Tate High School, Cantonment, Fla.

Armed exhibition drill
1st Place: (Air Force) Foley High School, Foley, Ala.
2nd Place: (Air Force) Choctawhatchee High School, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
3rd Place: (Marine Corps.) A. Crawford Mosley High School, Lynn Haven, Fla.

Unarmed exhibition drill
1st Place: (Army) Murphy High School, Mobile, Ala.
2nd Place: (Air Force) Walton High School, DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
3rd Place: (Air Force) Rutherford High School, Panama City, Fla.

Color Guard
1st Place: (Army) Team A, Murphy High School, Mobile, Ala.
2nd Place: (Air Force) Choctawhatchee High School, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
3rd Place: (Army) Team B, Murphy High School, Mobile, Ala.

12 high schools drilled during JROTC contest