South Lakes JROTC Earns Awards at MLK Meet

Members of the South Lakes High School Army JROTC took home four trophies last weekend at the 22^nd annual Martin Luther King Drill Meet, improving on their performance from the year before.

Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine JROTC units from 46 schools in Virginia, Maryland, DC, New Jersey and North Carolina entered the competition, which took place Jan. 14 at the Arthur Ashe Jr. Center in Richmond.

Each school was represented by a team consisting 12 members plus a platoon leader, who performed marching and military drill procedures in various categories. Teams were judged on personal appearance from the neatness of their uniforms to proper haircuts; military knowledge; and execution of commands.

Led by retired Maj. Joseph Schuler and retired Sgt. First Class Anthony Handy, the South Lakes High School JROTC program has been steadily improving since they took over the program five years ago. The program attracts more than 140 South Lakes students in all grades.

This year, the South Lakes JROTC team took third place trophies in Unarmed Exhibition Platoon, Armed Regulation Squad and Unarmed Regulation Squad. The unit also took fourth place in Armed Exhibition Squad.

 In addition, Cadet Aaron Urban took fourth place in the individual knockout drill for Unarmed Regulation. All cadets are permitted to participate in the knockout drills, in which commands are given and individuals are eliminated if they do not execute them properly.

In last year's competition, the South Lakes unit took home two trophies: fourth place in Color Guard and Unarmed Regulation Squad.