Davis JROTC Red Tails fare well at national competition

The General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. High School Air Force Junior ROTC Red Tails and Flying Falcons teams successfully competed at the 2018 National High School Drill Team Championship Challenge Division in Daytona Beach on May 4.

The Nationals remains the oldest, largest and finest all-service drill and ceremony competition. More than 180,000 cadets, instructors and parents have attended the NHSDTC competition for over the last 35 years.

To reach the Nationals competition, schools must qualify by successfully placing at a designated regional drill meet. The Red Tails Armed Team and Flying Falcons Unarmed Team both qualified by their overall first-place finish at the Cypress Fairbanks ISD competition.

“I applaud our cadet’s commitment to seeking excellence. Out of the 179 school days, our cadets practice well over 150 not including weekends. More than winning, they understand and value the concept that hard work works,” said drill team instructor Master Sergeant Anthony Bullock.

The Red Tails armed team earned second-place in regulation drill and third-place in exhibition drill with team commander Adrian Veles placing third. The Flying Falcons unarmed team finished in third-place in regulation drill and fourth-place in exhibition drill with team commander Esther Jurado placing fourth.

For overall results in the Championships Challenge Division, the Red Tails placed sixth out of 28 in the armed team category and the Flying Falcons placed eighth out of 31 in the unarmed team category.

“I’m extremely proud of our Red Tails armed drill team and Flying Falcons unarmed drill team as well as the JROTC instructors. Their hard work and dedication has paid off as they competed against the Nation’s top JROTC programs in the National High School Drill Teams Championships in Florida. They are a great example of our Falcon Pride!,” said Davis High School Principal Thomas Colwell.