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5th Annual Strom Thurmond Classic Meet

web posted October 24, 2006
By Navy Career Counselor Ty Face

COUNTY – In the morning twilight on a crisp cool day, the Strom Thurmond NJROTC Cadets started to arrive in the back parking lot at Strom Thurmond High School.  The 51 cadets wore the Khaki Uniform professionally with crisp creases and fresh haircuts.  On Saturday, October 7, 2006, twelve other JROTC Units started to arrive in their activity bus to compete at the 5th Annual Strom Thurmond Classic Meet.  The twelve JROTC Units competing are; Saluda, Butler, Greenbrier, Westside, T.L. Hanna, South Aiken, Silver Bluff, Colleton County, Cross Creek, North Augusta, Easley and Midland Valley.  Also arriving early in the morning with hamburgers, hot dogs, snacks, drinks and other barbeque equipment was the NJROTC Booster Club.  

The Classic Meet commenced with Military Drill and Orienteering competition.  The twelve schools battled on the military drill pads in; regulation platoon armed, regulation platoon unarmed, regulation squad armed, regulation squad unarmed, regulation individual armed, color guard, exhibition platoon armed, exhibition squad armed, exhibition duo armed and exhibition individual armed.  The overall regulation drill are; 1st place – Cross Creek, 2nd place – Easley, 3rd place – Silver Bluff, 4th place – Colleton County, and 5th place – North Augusta.  The overall exhibition drill are; 1st place – Silver Bluff, 2nd place – North Augusta, 3rd place – Easley, 4th place – Colleton County, and 5th place – T. L. Hanna.  The overall drill champions are; 1st place – Silver Bluff, 2nd place – Easley, 3rd place – Cross Creek, 4th place – North Augusta, and 5th place – Colleton County.  The Orienteering competition was a heated battle running through the woods looking for control points.  In the end the following schools placed; 1st place – Silver Bluff, 2nd place – Greenbrier, and 3rd place – Westside.  Knockout competition commenced with 200 cadets competing for a medal in the top 5 spots once drill and orienteering competition completed.  This competition is highly intense, while 20 judges scrutinize the precision of military drill. 

The barbeque started after knockout competition around 10:30 AM and the NJROTC Booster Club continued to serve the 500-600 cadets, parents, instructors, judges and followers of JROTC programs until 2:30 PM.  Next the Academic Jeopardy style competition started in three Strom Thurmond High School classrooms.  Each team would field 4-5 cadets in a highly competitive academic competition.  Once the smoke cleared from academic competition the following units placed; 1st place – Silver Bluff, 2nd place – South Aiken, and 3rd place – Cross Creek.  While academic competition was in full swing, the Volleyball Competition was swinging some serves, bumping, setting and spiking in the Strom Thurmond High School Gym.  Majority of the JROTC Units filled the stands with motivation and enthusiasm.  Once the leather stopped flying, the following units placed; 1st place – Silver Bluff, 2nd place – Westside, and 3rd place – Easley. 

The last event was Athletics which started after volleyball and academics was completed.  The Strom Thurmond High School Football Field bleachers filled up with cadets, parents and instructors while the units athletic teams lined the field to compete in; 1, 600 yard shuttle run, wheel barrow race, stretcher race, firemen carry race and tug-of-war.  The sound of enthusiasm and cheering their units was as loud as a home football game.  When the last rope was pulled, the following units placed in; 1st place – Silver Bluff, 2nd place – Westside, 3rd place – Cross Creek, 4th place – Greenbrier, and 5th place – Butler. 

The 5th Annual Strom Thurmond Classic Meet ended with the Awards Ceremony.  The Overall Grand Champions are; 1st place – Silver Bluff, 2nd place – Cross Creek, and 3rd place – Easley, 4th place – Westside, and 5th place – North Augusta.  At one point during the competition an instructor from another JROTC Unit asked Petty Officer Face how you cope with the stress to ensure everything runs smoothly.  Told the instructor, “walked the cadets through every event we had and explained in detail the expectations of each cadet for the past five days.”  Also mentioned to the instructor, “Would not be possible to run this extremely large event without the assistance from the NJROTC Booster Club.” 

The cadet seniors have come along way these past 4 years and we also have some very strong juniors, sophomores and freshmen cadets.  Their leadership, dedication, sacrifice and selflessness are the reasons why the NJROTC Instructors at Strom Thurmond High School fully believe in them and their abilities to achieve above and beyond their capabilities. 

The Instructors would like to say, “Thank you” to the following; Superintendent, consistently supports NJROTC, our Principal that is highly devoted to our success, Maintenance Department willing to support us with anything we need, the use of the three teacher’s classrooms on T-Hall, Mr. Leroy Turner who continues to be their for us when needed, the Edgefield County EMT’s, our NJROTC Cadets and of course the NJROTC Booster Club. 

These parents sacrifice their time to assist the Instructors and Cadets with anything desired to ensure a smooth flow at any event.  The Booster Club has been a big part in why the Strom Thurmond NJROTC Program has earned the second highest award for the past four years in a row, “Unit Achievement Award”.  The NJROTC Unit will continue to prosper and succeed for years to come.  I ask any teenager in Edgefield County, “do you have what it takes to be a good citizen?”



 

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