FCHS JROTC finishes 22nd in nation during competition

Franklin County High School’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps — JROTC — program finished ranked as 22nd in the nation following competition earlier this month in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Retired Col. Lynn Pippen, who, along with retired Sgt. First Class Marjorie DeLaGarza, heads the Bulldog Battalion, made the placement announcement on Thursday, April 21.

“Many in the community and abroad have been anxious to hear the results of our drill team at the national championship,” Pippen said.

“We received the news late Tuesday, April 19, but chose to hold our ranking until we had the chance to tell the team.

“I’m delighted to report the FCHS Armed Drill Team finished ranked No. 22. We consider this a monumental achievement and surpassed our own expectations for this first appearance at national-level competition.”

Pippen said there is a great deal of pride from everyone involved in the event that was held in mid-April.

“We have already set goals to work our way back into the championship with even higher performance goals,” he continued.

“I offer a special thank you to SFC DeLaGarza for her devotion to duty and commitment to excellence in her head coaching role for the drill team.”

The FCHS JROTC unit was one of only three Mississippi schools that were invited to participate in the national event, and was the lone Magnolia State squad in the Armed Division of the competition.

In that division, the local cadets took part in the Armed Regulation Platoon, the Armed Inspection Platoon, Armed Exhibition Platoon and the Armed Color Guard competitions.

Additionally, Cadet Col. Klint Johnson and Cadet Command Sgt. Maj. Corey Ward participated in the Duo Exhibition, and Cadet Second Lt. Austin Wallace competed in the exhibition solo category.

Pippen said there is also a great deal of pride that this team has set a benchmark that future FC teams can shoot for.

“The bar has been set high by this outstanding group of cadets, and our goal will be to continue to improve every year so that this kind of opportunity will become an expectation within our program,” he continued.

“In everything they do, our team has strived and will continue to represent our school and community with the excellence we have come to expect from these young people.”