As the buses unloaded with an air of excitement and competitive spirit, eager JROTC
students were prepped to demonstrate their hard work and preparedness to compete in
the first-ever Union Pines High School Viking Drill Meet held on Saturday, October
25 on the Sandhills Community College campus in Pinehurst.
Teams hailed from Eugene Ashley High School, Wilmington, NC (NJROTC); Northside High
School, Jacksonville, NC (AFJROTC); Cary High School, Cary, NC (NJROTC); Pinecrest
High School, (AFJROTC), South Stokes High School, Walnut Cove, NC (MCJROTC); and York
County High School (Yorktown, VA) NJROTC.
“This event was about bringing together the future leaders of our nation to showcase
discipline, teamwork and camaraderie. Sponsoring Union Pines’ first-ever JROTC Drill
Meet was an incredible experience, seeing months of planning come into fruition and
watching these cadets perform with such pride was truly inspiring. Some teams traveled
over five hours, boarding buses at 3 a.m.—not because they had to, but because they
wanted to,” said Dave Daniels, Director of Veterans Services at Sandhills Community
College Ryan Veterans Center. “That level of commitment embodies what JROTC stands
for. We’re already looking forward to making next year’s event even bigger, with more
schools, more competition, and even greater opportunities for these young leaders
to shine.”
In total, there were over 200 cadets who participated in the meet that tested various
drills including color guard, exhibition, tug-a -war, curl ups, push ups, planks,
and more. They represented three branches of the military—Navy, Air Force and Marine
Corps. Taking home top prize was York County High School from Yorktown, Virginia.
Local Pinecrest High School placed third in armed SQD Drill and in push ups.
