Attention to detail; Junior ROTC cadets compete in regional drill meet.

Byline: Bradford L. Miner

WEBSTER - The rifles they spin and toss and shoulder are demilitarized or facsimiles.

But the attention the Junior ROTC cadets pay to uniform, bearing, conduct and complex choreographed drills is deadly serious.

And when it all comes together in league competition, as it did yesterday at Bartlett High School, the best rise to the top and are rewarded for their efforts, whether it be a team trophy or a hug from a proud parent.

Competing in eight of 11 events in Meet 3 of the Southern New England Drill League, the Naval Junior ROTC Unit from Oxford High School, past national champions, took first-place trophies in armed regulation, armed exhibition and armed color guard competition, and secured sufficient points, according to Cmdr. Michael C. Masley Jr., to take league honors in the armed color guard competition.

Oxford senior Rebecca Gaddis, a four-year member of the NJROTC unit, was all smiles at the conclusion of competition.

"Today was just fantastic. We had a great run in armed regulation, and came in first in armed exhibition for the first time this season, and first and second in armed and unarmed color guard," Miss Gaddis said.

Reflecting on her NJROTC experience, Miss Gaddis said, "Being a member of the unit is like having another family."

She said the extra time spent at school each week in practice pays off in competition, and that she and fellow cadets seem to do their best in competition.

Miss Gaddis said she has no designs on a military career, but knows that her experience in the NJROTC unit will go a long way in helping her attain her goal of attending college.

Mr. Masley said the team has one more league competition, next weekend in Newport, R.I., before returning to Montgomery, Ala., where in tournament competition

it will defend the national title

it has held for three years.

Within the league there are three divisions: armed, in which cadets carry 8-1/2 pound rifles; unarmed, in which they compete without firearms; and facsimile, in which cadets compete with replica rifles.

Cadets are judged based on inspection, exhibition and color guard drill.

"The judges are looking at everything - from attention to detail with their uniform, proper display of medals, bearing and response to questions. Then, with the routines there are anywhere from 95 to 110 steps that have to be memorized. Some teams go the limit with choreography, attempting pyramids. Coaches will go out and buy videos of past competitions to decide which elements their unit might handle and which go beyond the unit's capabilities," Mr. Masley said.

While Oxford took top honors in the armed exhibition competition, the Army Junior ROTC Detachment at LaSalle Institute in Troy, N.Y., took second place with a choreographed drill that involved the backward toss and catch of rifles.

The Air Force Junior ROTC Unit at Bartlett High School acted as host to the 10 other units competing and the Bartlett cadets took a third-place trophy in armed inspection.

Bartlett Cmdr. Wayne Seelig said his cadets knew when the day began that among the units they would face would be the national champion cadets from Oxford.

"When they came off the gym floor smiling, feeling good about themselves, I couldn't ask for anymore than that," he said.

Bartlett's Junior ROTC program is relatively new, having been established five years ago.

Mr. Seelig said the introduction of the program to Bartlett was the idea of the principal and had the backing of the School Committee and the administration. Overall, he said, the program is considered a success and he is looking forward, with two instructors, to getting back on track, giving the program some stability after a rocky period.

"Contrary to a popular misconception, a Junior ROTC program at any high school across the country is not about recruiting for the Army, Navy or Air Force. Some cadets will go on to military careers, but that's not the intent of the program. The intent is to make them good citizens," the commander said

"We're adult mentors for our cadets. Some see what we represent, where we've come from, what we've achieved and decide to follow up with a military career, but that's entirely a personal decision for each cadet," Cmdr. Seelig added.

George A. Livermore, retired from the Navy, said Oxford's program has been in place for 12 years and built a reputation for excellence, winning the national championship in Daytona, Fla., on five occasions, and sweeping the national color guard competition last year in Montgomery.

"It's all about the cadets and their hard work and willingness to get up and get to practice at 5 in the morning," he said.

Bartlett cadets Laura Orrico, Chris Moran, Alex McFadden and Jacob Osborne talked about their experiences during a lunch break and each found their participation to be rewarding.

Schools participating yesterday included Bartlett, Oxford, LaSalle,

Cranston East High School in Cranston, R.I., Hope High School in Providence, New Britain High School in New Britain, Conn., West Hill High School in Stamford, Conn., and Rogers High School in Newport.

Also, Air Force Junior ROTC units from Central High School in Springfield and Coventry High School in Coventry, R.I., competed.

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Members of Oxford High School's NJROTC unit compete in armed exhibition during the Southern New England Drill League meet at Bartlett High School yesterday. (2) Vancelette Chelsea of Bartlett's NJROTC unit competes in individual drill regulation yesterday.

PHOTOG: T&G Staff/DAN GOULD