District JROTC Championship Drill Meet Very Special

On 04 March, seven Brevard Army JROTC Drill Programs fielded teams for the District Championship at Veterans Memorial Park. Two earlier5 meets had more schools and cadets, but scores earned then did not allow others to attend the District Meet.

Following through on a pledge made early this school year, the Good Deeds Foundation of MOAACC provided funds for every trophy at 8 meets from September to March for the 15 JRORTC High Schools competing in Raider Challenges, Air Rifle and Drill meets.  That total passed $3400 and included a new, GDF perpetual trophy to recognize the annual winner of Drill competition named after MOAACC member Lloyd Stafford, a Texas AM graduate who provided his Aggie Sabre as part of the trophy.  GDF member Doug Bisset created the new trophy which was presented, along with dozens of others,  at the final Drill Meet for JROTC of the 2022-23 School Year.  The meet was supported also by the VMC.

Cocoa Beach JrSr Army JROTC Drill Team won that trophy for 2023.  They and most of the six other JROTC programs (Cocoa, Rockledge, Heritage , Viera, Astronaut and Merritt Island) placed seven separate teams that won first place in categories ranging from Color Guard to Platoon Armed Drill to individual demonstration .  Those seven are headed for State Competition in late March.  Congratulations to all the 120 JROTC cadets who competed when most of their HS classmates were at home in bed on a beautiful Saturday Morning.

Of special note was the Drill Team from Cocoa Army JROTC.  Three nights before the meet, one of their own, Cadet Kiara Terwilliger was killed at her home in Cocoa.  The team decided to compete for her and did quite well.  A moment of Silence was held in memory of Ms. Terwilliger  as the Cocoa Team and supporters released balloons into the air.

Parents, cadets and instructors heartily thanked MOAACC and VMC for support at all 8 meets held at the VMC Park.  It was quire a school year for so many JROTC cadets and teams.