VALDOSTA -- Junior ROTC cadets from high schools across Georgia and North Florida will have a chance to display their talents before Valdosta State University and Air Force officials this weekend.
On Saturday, 11 high school will compete in a Junior ROTC drill meet hosted by Valdosta State.
The competition includes events in regular drill, unarmed exhibition, armed exhibition and color guard. The categories test cadets on numerous marching maneuvers around a given.
With the armed exhibition, cadets use rifles that are replicas and light weight or as much as 12 pounds while marching to assigned or memorized commands.
"It's very sharp out there, the things that they do, they're in fierce competition," said Capt. Kerri Barnes, unit admissions officer for VSU's AFROTC Det. 172. "Cadets are learning discipline by being able to work together in a formation with a lot of these events having to memorize drill sequences. It shows who's practiced the most."
With VSU hosting and participating in the judging of the drill meet, Barnes added that it gives cadets exposure to Valdosta's campus.
"It's a tool to be able to show off VSU," Barnes said.
Coordinating the event takes months of planning, said Cadet Matthew Perry, of VSU's AFROTC Det. 172.
Perry said there is a staff of cadets that have been organizing the event and ensuring judges are properly trained for the event.
"It takes a lot of hours ... making sure all the proceedings are taken care of," Perry said.
The following events also require hours of practice for the competition that places first through third in each category and overall placements.
"It's a chance to show off what they know," Perry said.
The drill meet is open to the public and will be held at the VSU practice field behind Barrow Hall on the university's North Campus.
Opening ceremonies start at 8:30 a.m. with competition to continue until about 3 p.m.
Local News
VSU hosts Junior ROTC drill meet
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