Photo By Janecze Wright | Cadets from the Northside High School Army JROTC team out of Fort Worth, TX, cheered...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas -- Fourteen high school Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps teams representing Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps programs converged at Abrams Gym on Fort Hood to compete in the JROTC Skills Meet March 25.
Cadets hailed from high schools in Alvarado, Belton, Copperas Cove, Fort Worth, Harker Heights, Killeen, Mesquite, Pflugerville, Round Rock and Waco to compete in a battery of assessments to gauge their skills in drill team, color guard, physical fitness and academics.
The event brings together Fort Hood and Central Texas Independent School District JROTC cadre and cadets to strengthen community relations and provide an opportunity for area high school JROTC cadets to compete. The teams vied for trophies awarded for first, second and third place in each of the events. Event points from all four events were added together to establish the grand champion.
“We’re really excited about today’s event, we have a huge turn-out, a lot of smiling faces, it’s beautiful weather and our Soldiers are really excited to be a part of it,” said Capt. Taylor Criswell, 1st Cavalry Division.
The Hendrickson High School Marine JROTC drill team out of Pflugerville was first up to compete in the armed drill event. Judges from units across the installation awarded points based on precision and uniformity.
First Sergeant Annalisa Villanueva, drill commander for Hendrickson, led her team through the event. She reflected on her senior year and how four years in JROTC have helped her grow as a commander.
“The thing I like most about being in ROTC is the community,” she said. “It really builds family. It took me from being someone that wouldn’t talk to anyone and opened me to a lot of experiences and meeting a lot of cool people.”
Villanueva added that this year’s event was bittersweet.
“This is my last competition, so I’m excited, but also sad,” she admitted. “I just want to make the best memories.”
The sunny, but slightly breezy weather provided the perfect opportunity for cadets to compete in physical fitness events outside. Senior enlisted Soldiers explained proper technique for push-ups and curl ups to teams of four and timed competitors in the sprint event. Hendrickson flexed their muscle and scored well in the physical fitness event.
The color guard competition was also held outside, in the center of the track. Stony Point High School Navy JROTC was a newcomer to the Skills Meet, but caught the judges attention right away. The female color guard team made an impression with their technical execution and synchronization in the female color guard event.
Onlookers chattered about how schools fared in each event and many wondered if Killeen High School Army JROTC would continue their reign as overall winners.
While the scores were tallied, cadets competed in a knock-out drill competition facilitated by Sgt. Maj. Jeremy Crisp, III Armored Corps Public Affairs. Crisp called a series of commands to dwindle the crowd down to the last cadet standing.
Command Sgt. Maj. Hatem Muhammad, Killeen High School Army JROTC armed drill team commander, outlasted his peers and was awarded a medal from Col. Chad R. Foster, U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Hood commander.
“Attention to detail is like really important for an armed drill commander,” Muhammad said. “I didn’t think I was gonna win so it feels nice. I’m glad I went out there.”
Muhammad added that he was very happy for himself, but also excited to see how his team placed. He encouraged his fellow cadets to adopt a can-do attitude. “Just try it. Don’t say no to yourself.”
Foster addressed the audience as they waited for the awards ceremony.
“The future of our country is sitting right here in these stands,” he said. “I really appreciate you being here today. I appreciate you having the guts to come here and compete. Not all of your peers have that commitment, have that moxy. You’ve got it, because you’re out here.”
As the roar of applause died down, the cadets anxiously waited to hear how they placed.
Killeen High School Army JROTC has a history of besting their competitors, and although the Roos placed in the top three in most of the events, the Stony Point High School Navy JROTC team won overall titles in armed and unarmed drill, as well as female color guard, and emerged as the Skills Meet Grand Champion.
Hendrickson High School Marine JROTC won overall in the physical fitness event, Belton High School Marine JROTC won the overall title for the male co-ed color guard event and Round Rock High School Marine JROTC earned first place in the academic challenge. Command Sgt. Maj. Brandon Freeman, Harker Heights High School Army JROTC, and Master Sgt. Janet Watson, Northside High School Army JROTC, were recognized as the top scoring individuals in the physical fitness event.
| Date Taken: | 03.30.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 04.14.2023 14:53 |
| Story ID: | 441954 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 58 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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