"Forward, march!"
"Column right, march!"
"Left flank, march!"
These are commands people would expect to hear all over Fort Jackson as drill sergeants work to transform civilians into Soldiers, but these came from high school students at the Midland Area Drill/Rifle Team League competitions at Lower Richland High School, Nov. 14.
The junior ROTC cadets, from nine of the 12 surrounding high schools, were judged on exhibition, regulations, and color guard during the competition by drill sergeant candidates from the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy.
The task is one Fort Jackson drill sergeants also perform several times a year at high school competitions.
"Who better to judge this than us," said Sgt. Daniel McElroy, a reservist and drill sergeant candidate from the 95th Training Division. Candidates not only learn how to teach drill and ceremony, they are expected to identify and correct any deficiencies. "We live it."
"(Students) look to us as the subject matter experts," he said just prior to grading a color guard from Lugoff-Elgin High School. "Who is the best to grade? Drill sergeants and candidates."
Among other things, the drill teams are graded on "how they follow commands, how they (pronounce) commands effectively, and how they follow Army regulations," McElroy said.
It can be tough for the junior ROTC cadets, because "the moment they step onto the stage they are graded and timed," he said as the color guard prepared to begin its routine.
During the routine, McElroy and Sgt. 1st Class David Lea, a reservist drill sergeant candidate with the 108th Training Command, watched the Lugoff-Elgin High School color guard executed a series of movements including casing and uncasing the colors, facing movements, and marching around a small area.
The two drill sergeant candidates intently watched the color guard execute its routine, as the commands of other drill teams wafted in the distance.
Lea, a native of Tucson, Arizona, said he was in his element judging the completion.
"I really like it," he said. In his civilian career "I am a certified school teacher," so he knows how to help the cadets.
Without the drill sergeant candidates the event couldn't get off the ground.
"They bring a lot of experience (to the competition)," said retired Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Vaulx, Lower Richland High School's Army instructor. "Their years of experience and professionalism gives the kids a sight of what the active Army is.
"They are good role models."
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