GREENFIELD — While many students were enjoying their final days of spring break on April 11, the Greenfield High School California Cadet Corps was representing Greenfield in the California Cadet Corps State Drill Competition at Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.
The State Drill Competition is a premier, high-stakes event showcasing precision, skill, discipline and teamwork, which includes such events as regulation drills, exhibition drills, color guard and uniform inspections.
The GHS cadets competed in the Unarmed Squad Drill, Color Guard and Armed Exhibition Drill, in which they ended up getting first place for all of them. They also competed in the Armed Squad Drill.
“The team was dedicated to perfecting their drill movements, and execution during the performance was perfect. What I saw was esprit de corps between each team member,” said Cadet Capt. Victor Merino.
In addition, Cadet 2nd Lt. Israel Lopez won first place in the Drill Instructor Armed Knock Out Drill Down.
The Drill Down is an intense competition where participants follow rapid-fire, complex commands from drill instructors. Winning this event is rare and respectable, as it is considered prestigious amongst cadet drill instructors statewide.
“I was happy to see my cadets win. It is a first for our program, but I hope not a last,” added Capt. Ericka Radcliff, Commandant of GHS California Cadet Corps.
