Old Bridge High School Junior ROTC program wins six trophies at drill competition

OLD BRIDGE – About 25 students enrolled in the Old Bridge High School Air Force Junior ROTC program walked away with six trophies at the Washington Township All-Services Drill Competition at Washington Township High School.

The squad competed against 10 JROTC units, representing all branches of service, from the quad-state area on March 16 at the high school that is located in Gloucester County.

The Old Bridge JROTC took first place in Academics, which consisted of an academic exam and a persuasive PowerPoint presentation; second place in Unarmed Inspection, Armed Regulation, and Unarmed Color Guard; and third place in Unarmed Regulation and Armed Exhibition Drill.

According to their teacher, Lt. Col. Rory Doolittle, an armed drill is accomplished while holding a Springfield 1903 replica rifle while an unarmed event is accomplished without rifles. He said an exhibition drill is the rifle spinning event, which is similar to the U.S. Marine commercials.

The Old Bridge High School’s JROTC Drill Team competes at about four events each year.