The Bob Jones AFJROTC branch hosted its very first in-person drill meet this weekend. It included ten teams in ten separate competitions to test their dedication and discipline. Drill, for those of you who are not familiar, is the art of marching in strict military protocol and a test of discipline and commitment. The team members spend most of their time perfecting a series of incredibly complex and difficult movements entirely from memory. The competitors were sorted into two separate categories: Armed and Unarmed. Armed means that the team uses fake rifles as a military tradition. Unarmed is the other category and it is similar to armed except the team has no rifles yet still marches within the strict military standard.

The competitions were monitored, judged, and scored by recruiters and representatives from many military branches including, the Air National Guard, U.S. Navy, Alabama State Guard, and ROTC cadets from nearby colleges. The teams competing were Columbia, Greenville, Hazel Green, Hoover, Huntsville, James Clemens, Lee/New Century, Prattville, Sparkman, and William Blount. The event ran from Eight AM to Two PM on Saturday and was a resounding success. The team that won the event was Hazel Green, who won both the Armed and Unarmed Divisions. This is an impressive and challenging feat that speaks to the dedication of the team members and their coaches.

Cadet Logan Jackson planned out and oversaw the execution of the event and did an outstanding job. He collected a team of JROTC Cadet volunteers and got together with them to create the event and move it from idea to execution. These Cadets did an excellent job and were assisted by Major Lacey and Chief Clark who shared their expertise and offered assistance when needed.  They worked together to create an event that other JROTC instructors praised as one of, if not the best-organized competitions that they have ever been to. Indeed the event was so successful that it might become an annual occurrence.