“Platoon, fall in!” Immediately, students that were chatting with friends are focused cadets as they line up in regulation formation. Talking ceases and fidgeting stills as all eyes turn to the JROTC Drill Commander. This is a typical beginning to a Drill practice, but Tuesday Oct. 1st’s session was more crucial than ever as the team prepared for their first competition of the year.

This first competition, taking place Saturday Oct. 5 at Smithson Valley, is the first of three competitions scheduled for the month of October alone. Drill members are counting on the judges’ observations at Smithson to help prepare for the next meets.

“We’re gonna have to do our best at Smithson Valley, and then whatever the judges tell us to correct, we have one week to correct it,” Drill Team Commander Isabella Kester said. “And then at our next competition, we get to show off what we learned.”

The judges will be observing the team in two categories: regulation and exhibition. Regulation is marching in rows and columns, and exhibition is a routine that the team memorizes which features patting, stomping and rifle throwing.

“I love doing the exhibition and the regulation. I like looking as one, being sharp, and that overall discipline and bearing,” Unarmed Drill Team Commander Mia Escalante said. “I love that competitive feeling of just working as a team.”

The team this year has a lot of freshmen that are working to catch up to the knowledge of their older teammates. As a result, practices so far have been about teaching the basics rather than advanced techniques, but that doesn’t discourage the commanders. 

“I’m really, really excited to see what the freshmen are going to do,” Escalante said. “My main focus is ensuring that I’m leaving behind a good base of a routine so they can build upon it.”

The commanders have a multi-pronged mission: while growing the future leaders of the Drill team, they must also continue to coach all members in the judges’ criteria.

“They look for leaders who are able to control the team and know exactly what’s going on all the time,” Kester said. “They want to see team members who look like they’re dedicated and they’re serious about being there.”