What is National Drill Team Competition? To answer this question, I interviewed some of the cadets from the Apex Cadet Squadron Drill Team, which placed 2nd overall at the competition. Here are their responses:
Drill Team Is…
· A chance for 13 individuals to become professionals. –TJ Richardson
· The ultimate test of teamwork and cooperation under stress.—Philip Davis
· An opportunity for cadets to expand their comfort zones and learn new skills such as panel quiz, volleyball, running, and how to stand still for a REALLY long time. –Olivia Barrow
· My favorite part of CAP.—Peter Barrow
· AWESOME!—Tyler Weston
As evidenced by these enthusiastic testimonials, National Cadet Competition (NCC) is truly different. A part of Civil Air Patrol's Cadet Program, the competition encompasses seven events: Panel Quiz, a Written Exam, a Mile Run, Volleyball, Standard Drill, Innovative Drill, and Inspection. Each event has equal weight towards the overall outcome of the competition.
Teams usually begin training six to eight months before the national competition. In order to compete at the national level, each team must win its state and region competitions. Thus, the eight teams who assemble at NCC represent the finest cadets of each region.
The Apex Cadet Squadron placed 1st in Inspection and Written Exam and 2nd in Innovative Drill and Panel Quiz. C/Col Olivia Barrow scored highest overall on the written exam, with a score of 95. C/CMSgt Peter Barrow ran the team's fastest mile, clocking in at 5 minutes 31 seconds.
The team's outstanding performance is only one example of the Apex Cadet Squadron's commitment to excellence.
If you are interested in visiting the squadron, please visit the website: http://apexcadetsquadron.googlepages.com/home. Or, contact Carol Beaver 612-1506 for more information.
The squadron meets every Thursday from 7-9 at Hope Community Church in Apex. Visitors are welcome any time.
(The above article was written by Olivia Barrow, a C/Colonel in the Apex Squardon of the Civil Air Patrol)
