English JROTC team demonstrates its skill and precision for fellow students

LYNN – Back from another successful trip to the National Championships in Daytona Beach, the Lynn English High School Junior ROTC Drill Team held a demonstration from freshmen and sophomore students Tuesday.Both the male and female squads performed their award-winning routines for the crowd, displaying the discipline and teamwork needed to be successful in the rigorous competitions.”We are not here to force anyone into joining the military, we are here to teach responsibility, respect, teamwork and discipline,” Sgt. Mgr. Ken Oswald told the students before the demonstration. “Drills are a good skill because it instills instant obedience to orders.”The drill team traveled 24 hours by bus to Daytona Beach, Fla. earlier this month to compete against 144 of the best high school drill teams in the nation.Already carrying a reputation from its 2006 national championship and multiple regional victories, the Bulldogs Drill Team finished 13th in the male competition and sixth in the female competition, along with 7 individual awards.The teams are made up of students from all grades and backgrounds. Some plan on attending college after high school while two seniors say they plan on enlisting in the military.The JROTC does not require any military commitment, and while it is affiliated with the marines, the program teaches students about all branches of the military.Succeeding in drill team competitions is all about focus and discipline, team members say.”You have to focus yourself and not worry about the other teams,” said Cadet First Sgt. Kyle Kable. “You have to worry about what you are going to do. You have to be in it to win it.”Following the competition, the students took a trip to Paris Island Marine Corps Recruiting Center to get a taste of what life in the military is really like.”It really set the moment on the bus,” said Cadet Staff Sgt. Michael Burgess. “You go down that road (leading in) and you just have the water on both sides of you.”Members say teamwork is important and getting to know new members is essential to making the project work.”I was surprised when I started, the juniors were real nice and helpful,” said freshman Charles Santamaria. “You kind of looked at them as being cocky before, but it is not like that.”