Photo By Garrett Cole | Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) cadets stand in formation during an...... read more read more
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla.: For the first time in more than 20 years, the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps drill competition took place on the base, marking a milestone for cadets and organizers who worked to bring the event back to military grounds.
Master Sgt. Joshua Joseph, flight chief of group intelligence for the 752nd Operations Support Squadron, led the effort to reinstate the on-base competition. Joseph, a former JROTC cadet, first experienced the program in 2000 when his father, an instructor, helped organize the last competition held on base before 9/11 forced a relocation.
"When I started this group in 2017, the goal was always to bring it back here," Joseph said. "Wing leadership was hesitant at first, but last year, when the vice commander attended the competition, he asked why it was not on base. That started the process of making this happen."
The competition was hosted off-base for the past seven years due to security concerns and logistical challenges. With support from base leadership, including Col. Adams and Col. Bruschetta, Joseph and his team secured the approvals needed to return the event to its original location.
The competition featured precision drill routines performed by JROTC cadets from high schools across the region. Events included regulation drills, color guard performances, and exhibition routines, where cadets displayed complex marching sequences and rifle spins.
For Joseph, who led his high school drill team to a state championship in 2005, the event's return to base was deeply personal. "This is where I fell in love with JROTC," he said. "Watching these cadets compete with that same passion is incredible."
Beyond competition, JROTC provides structure, discipline, and camaraderie to young cadets, some of whom face challenges at home. Joseph recalled a former competitor who turned his life around through JROTC, going from facing juvenile detention to becoming the best commander in the state.
"These kids put in countless hours perfecting their routines," Joseph said. "For many, this program is not just about drill. It is about belonging to something bigger."
As the event concluded with the awards ceremony, emotions ran high. With the return of the competition to base, organizers hope to establish a lasting tradition that will inspire future cadets just as it did for Joseph more than two decades ago.
| Date Taken: | 02.15.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.25.2025 08:14 |
| Story ID: | 491047 |
| Location: | TINKER, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Web Views: | 96 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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