Northmont NJROTC hosts 13th annual drill meet

Northmont Senior High School’s Navy Junior ROTC unit hosted their 13th annual drill meet October 26 for cadets from 12 high schools in three states.   More than 400 Army and Navy cadets participated in the activities.  Schools competed in the following events:  academic, athletic, air rifle, marching (unarmed platoon drill, armed platoon drill, unarmed squad, color guard) and personnel inspection.  The drill and color guard events required each team to follow a series of commands called out by their leader.  Teams were judged on appearance, alignment, proper sequence and execution of commands and the handling of the drill rifle (for armed competition).

In addition to Northmont, the schools that participated in the meet were Belmont High School (Dayton), Dayton Early College Academy (Dayton). Floyd Central High School (Floyds Knobs, Indiana), Franklin Heights High School (Columbus, Ohio), Grove City High School (Grove City, Ohio), Hamilton High School (Hamilton, Ohio). Highland High School (Medina, Ohio), Kenton High School (Kenton, Ohio), New Albany High School (New Albany, Indiana), Pike High School (Indianapolis, Indiana), Rhodes High School (Cleveland, Ohio), and Zion-Benton High School (Zion, Illinois).

Zion-Benton High School from Illinois won the overall trophy.  

Academic – Rhodes High School

Athletic - Hamilton High School

Air Rifle - Zion-Benton

Unarmed Platoon – Zion-Benton

Armed Platoon – Zion-Benton

Unarmed Squad –  Rhodes

Color Guard –  Pike High School

Personnel Inspection –  Zion-Benton

The 17 Judges for the meet were cadets from Wright State University Army ROTC and Miami University Navy/Marine ROTC, Marines from Wright Patterson Marine Instructor and Inspector command, and Navy and Marine Corp Recruiters.  

Northmont’s NS1 teams (first year cadets) were ineligible to win as they hosted the competition. However, they performed all of the drill categories and were judged in order to gain experience for future drill meets.
At the end of the team competition, individual cadets of all ranks competed in the Knockout drill. Commands are called by former Northmont cadet, Marine Sgt Dean Cassell  Cadets are judged, by ALL of the guest judges, on exact execution of each command.  If they make a mistake, they receive a tap on the shoulder indicating they are out of the competition.  The Knockout continues until the last cadet remains.  Sophomore John Garrison from Northmont won the unarmed round of Knockout.
Thanks to all of the parent boosters who helped in Operations and in the Concessions.  It takes a lot of coordination, teamwork and execution to make a successful meet and this year proved to be one of the smoothest, most successful yet.  Go Bolts!