By Scott Robertson
Daniel Boone High School’s Marine Corps JROTC program kept the biggest award in the county Saturday by winning the Division 1 Championship at the Appalachian Region ROTC Competition at Science Hill High School. Sullivan East won the small program category.
The competition featured an academic bowl, a fitness competition, a marksmanship match and a drill meet. Boone won the drill meet and fitness competition, and placed second in marksmanship.
David Crockett High School’s Naval JROTC program took second place in the academic bowl and third in the marksmanship match.
As host school, Science Hill’s JROTC program did not compete, but rather, ran the event, making sure everything was carried out smoothly.
“If I had to use one word to describe it, that word would be ‘flawless,’” said Col. Mike Johnson, senior Army instructor at Science Hill in evaluating his cadets’ planning and execution of the event. “Other schools may host one or two events. We are the only one in the region that takes on a challenge this size.”
Fifteen programs from as far away as Nashville, Asheville and north Georgia participated, bringing more than 600 visitors to campus.
“We had 73 cadets working the event, and everything that was not mandated that an adult handle, they handled,” Johnson said. “Several departments – English, math, science, P.E. – supported this event, and the cadets secured that support. Our cadets did very well.”
David Crockett High School’s color guard also competed.
Daniel Boone High School’s color guard helped Boone win the overall championship. Photos by Chris Robertson
The armed platoon competition was part of the drill meet.
The marksmanship competition was kind to Washington County, with Boone taking second and Crockett third.
