National High School Drill Team Championships return to Ocean Center April 14-16
When the National High School Drill Team Championships (NHSDTC) take place at the Ocean Center April 14 through 16, it will bring a new first to the longest running event at the facility. The 2022 championship will feature not only more than 120 schools representing the four service branches of the military — Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force – but the event will also maintain two independent service championship events held the day prior. Both the Marine Corps JROTC Drill Championships and the Army JROTC Drill Championships will take place Thursday, April 14. The combination of these events is expected to total well over 5,000 cadets, instructors and parents.
Over just two days, Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs from across the country will convene to compete in the oldest and largest all-service drill and ceremony event of the year. The 2022 NHSDTC event features four distinct drill and ceremony events in both the armed and unarmed divisions of competition. This will culminate with the Grand Awards Ceremony held Saturday night in the Ocean Center arena.
Additionally, with an added emphasis on military physical fitness in recent years, JROTC programs can also compete in the National JROTC Fitness Challenge Championships held on the shores of Daytona Beach behind the Plaza Resort & Spa in the morning and at the Ocean Center in the afternoon. This Army-sponsored event will host an additional 45 schools and 750 cadets.
“Over 35 years, this event has grown from only the National High School Drill team into an unparalleled weekend of military excellence featuring four different championships,” said National High School Drill Team Championships Director Justin Gates. “When we started this, we knew there was potential for success and are proud of just how large it’s grown. Between the Ocean Center facility and the surrounding destination, we’re able to offer competitors a first-class, professional event in a beautiful, family-friendly location. It’s the perfect culmination to the competition season.”
“The Ocean Center is proud to be the longtime host of the National High School Drill Team Championships,” said Ocean Center Director Tim Riddle. “Each year, we look forward to welcoming the thousands of competitors, along with their friends and family. To host such an upstanding organization is an honor.”
No matter what branch of military, JROTC programs work with high school students to develop character, instill personal responsibility and self-discipline, and emphasize citizenship and leadership skills. Students take part in both classroom and hands-on activities and participate in community service events. A key part of these programs is drill training, which is on display at the National Championships.
The event takes place April 14 through 16 and no admission fee is charged for entry. For more information, visit https://thenationals.net/nhsdtc.htm.
