MEDIA ADVISORY -- Regulation Drill Competition Puts JROTC Titles on Line

MEDIA ADVISORY from the San Diego Unified School District, December 14,
2012

REGULATION DRILL COMPETITION PUTS HIGH SCHOOL JROTC TITLES ON LINE

WHAT: JROTC units throughout San Diego Unified School District will
compete in the annual Joint Brigade Regulation Drill competition to
determine the overall best drill unit in the District. The Regulation
Drill competition is designed to showcase military drill precision and
foster an atmosphere of team and individual competition, while promoting
true sportsmanship. Open to the public.

WHEN/WHERE: 9 a.m., Saturday, December 15, Madison High School, (near the
football field on the east side of campus bordering Mt. Abernathy Street),
4833 Doliva Drive, SD (Clairemont Mesa) 92117. Media parking will be
available along Mt. Abernathy Street.

GUEST SPEAKERS/INTERVIEWS: Students, Instructors. (Spanish as well)

BACKGROUND: Annual event that includes all Junior Reserve Officers'
Training Corps (JROTC) Units from San Diego Unified School District which
includes thirteen schools and approximately 450 students. The Regulation
Drill competition is conducted in six separate phases: Unit Inspection;
Platoon/Flight Drill Competition; Squad/Element Drill Competition; Varsity
& 1st Year color Guard Competition; Best Drill Individual Level 1-4
Competitions; and the Awards Ceremony.

Drill is the foundation of good order and discipline and builds teamwork
and cohesion among the students. It teaches the cadets to focus, lead, and
follow detailed direction. The individual drill is the most basic type of
Drill. A squad is composed of two teams of four or five cadets each, as
well as a squad leader who is a Sergeant. This is the smallest recognized
element in the JROTC structure. It is the foundation for the cadets
learning and exercising leadership. This competition tests their ability
to work as a team. A platoon is the culmination of the previous drill
formations brought together. It personifies the meaning of teamwork.
Platoon Drill encourages discipline and team spirit. The flag is a symbol
of the unit. The loss of a unit's flag is not only shameful, but losing
this central point of reference could make the unit break up. To protect
the flag, a detachment of people the Color Guard, were assigned to guard
it.

The United States Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) came
into being with the passage of the National Defense Act of 1916. Under the
provisions of the Act, high schools were authorized the loan of federal
military equipment and the assignment of active duty military personnel as
instructors. In 1964, the Vitalization Act opened JROTC up to the other
services and replaced most of the active duty instructors with retirees
who worked for and were cost shared by the schools.

The JROTC Program has changed greatly over the years. Once looked upon
primarily as a source of enlisted recruits and officer candidates, it
became a citizenship program devoted to the moral, physical and
educational uplift of American youth. Although the program retained its
military structure and the resultant ability to infuse in its student
cadets a sense of discipline and order, it shed most of its early military
content.

The study of ethics, citizenship, communications, leadership, life skills
and other subjects designed to prepare young men and woman to take their
place in adult society, evolved as the core of the program. More recently,
an improved student centered curriculum focusing on character building and
civic responsibility is being presented in every JROTC classroom.

JROTC is a continuing success story. From a modest beginning of 6 schools
in 1916, JROTC has expanded to over 3,200 high schools within every state
in the nation, as well as American schools overseas. Cadet enrollment has
grown to 281,000 cadets with 4,000 professional instructors in the
classrooms. Comprised solely of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine retirees,
the JROTC instructors serve as mentors developing the outstanding young
citizens of our country.

The San Diego Unified School District's Junior Reserve Officers' Training
Corps (JROTC) is supported by the Office of College, Career & Technical
Education.


Contact: LTR (ret.) David Guzman,(619) 933-9789

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