GBHS cadets host invitational meet
BY BETTY ARCHER ALLEN Gulf Breeze News betty@gulfbreezenews.com

Betty Archer Allen/Gulf Breeze News Cdr. Jim Walker, left, presents the VFW Trophy to members of the Tate High School

On Sat. Oct. 27, the Gulf Breeze High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AFJROTC) Unit hosted the 9th Annual Dolphin Invitational Drill Meet at Dolphin Stadium. There are approximately 90 students at the high school who are members of AFJROTC. These AFROTC members of the student population are called cadets. Each year the drill and ceremonies class of Gulf Breeze High, under the leadership of Lt. Col. Keith R. Wise, the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor (SASI) at Gulf Breeze High School Air Force Junior ROTC Unit FL-932, and Senior Master Sgt. Kenneth R. Armitage, the Aerospace Science Instructor (ASI) at FL-932, hold this event. These cadets and their teachers have worked hard since the beginning of the school year to coordinate facility use, contact vendors for trophies, prepare the rules of the drill meet called "standard operating procedures," develop a grocery list, stock the concession stand and contact military organizations to acquire judges for the various events. Hosting this huge event required tremendous coordination within the cadet corps.

The Gulf Breeze High School JROTC cadets began work that day before the sun rose. They setup the concession stand, laid-out the drill areas, prepared the welcome packets for visiting schools, set-up the scoring booth, and put up the big flag. Visitors began arriving shortly after 7 a.m. At 7:30 a.m., the military judges were briefed. At 8:30 a.m., the opening ceremony, with all schools in formation on the track, marked the beginning of the drill meet.

Approximately 12 schools with more than 300 JROTC students wearing Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force uniforms were on the Gulf Breeze High campus this year. The field was an organized swarm of activity. While the group drill actions were going on, competitions in individual drill procedures were also conducted. Drill trials included the unarmed regulation drill, unarmed exhibition drill, armed regulation drill, armed exhibition drill and regulation color guard in demilitarized, unarmed, and facsimile divisions When the drill events were concluded, a final individual drill knock-out was conducted to determine first, second, and third place for individuals.

After that, visiting schools had teams competing in drill events. At the conclusion of the final individual drill, the award ceremony was held and more than 50 trophies were awarded for the various events. Most of the third place trophies were presented by Senior Cadet Captain Melanie Weems, second place trophies by Senior Cadet Colonel and Gulf Breeze Corps Commander Chris Martin, and first Place trophies by Lieutenant Colonel Keith R. Wise.

The winners were: The "Best at Drill Meet" trophy went to Pine Forest High School Navy JROTC. Tate High School Army JROTC won first Place Demilitarized Division. Cmdr. Jim Walker representing gold sponsor VFW Post 4407 presented the trophy. The two Silver Sponsors were Baptist Health Care and Workman's

Army JROTC.

Service Center who donated trophies for 1st Place Unarmed Division and 1st Place Facsimile Division, respectfully. These trophies were both awarded to

Pine Forest HS NJROTC. The Bronze Sponsor was Bayside Collision who donated the "Judges' Pick" Trophy that was won by Prattville HS AFJROTC.

This awarding of trophies did not conclude the work for the Gulf Breeze High Cadets. As the busses from the other schools pulled out of the parking lot, the Gulf Breeze cadets were still working. They cleaned the stadium, closed up the score booth, returned unused concession supplies to the JROTC room, and took down the big flag. At the end of the day these cadets had spent over 12 hours at Dolphin Stadium.

This group of students deserves attention and credit for their hard work, perseverance and commitment to work for the community such as the USO picnic given by the City of Gulf Breeze for military dependents.

Keith Wise said, "These motivated cadets don't usually get headlines, because they aren't doing drugs and breaking laws. When our cadets heard about the USO picnic they jumped at the chance to participate. The Color Guard gladly donned their uniforms and presented the colors. 'Pledge of Allegiance' led by their instructor, SMSgt Armitage. Many of the volunteers were the AFJROTC Cadets helping to supervise the children's games."

They are not paid for this community service that is a part of the AFJROTC Curriculum. The public should be more aware of this annual drill meet and support theses cadets as they meet the goals and objectives set by by the United States Armed Forces.