Armed Side

This year the Armed Drill team has come back  better than ever! With just 2 people graduating  from last year, we have come back as a real team.  This year we are focusing on teamwork,  dedication, and motivation. By the end of every  practice the armed drill team is left with wanting  more. For motivation this year, we put a little  rivalry between Armed and Unarmed, by making  team motto’s, having competitions in the end of  practice like pt, exhibition & more. Abraham  Raflores and Jose Cabrera are the Armed Drill  Team Commanders. They work hard together to  make the team win every competition they go to.

Unarmed Side

This year Unarmed drill is starting off on an amazing foot, with strong leaders and an outstanding set of girls. Led by Maj Isabel Corella & Maj Kattia Santana, the Unarmed side is becoming a well disciplined team which is developing a strong base for upcoming years. With only 5 girls from last year team returning, the team is brand new & fresh. Every day, they learn the basics of drill in all aspects. They have become loyal to the team & give their very best to it as well. Experienced drill members help the new members on each command and try to create a comfortable place for them not to be scared or intimidated and feel like a family.

The drill team has overcome many obstacles from last year and is working on fund raising to pay for all their expenses and make The Sons & Daughters of Liberty the best! This team has no room for unmotivated cadets or little mistakes.

By C/2LT Checo & C/2LT Cely

Competition at Francis Lewis High School steams up with coming very close to wining the first place trophy. Unarmed team coming in 2nd place overall and 2nd place in every category, working extremely hard to get first place.

Even though the armed team received 3rd place, they’re still determined to do better and make it 1st place in regional. “I have confidence in ourselves, each other and hit our routines, but we are guaranteed to win.” said Cadet Sergeant Major Russo. For New comer like Cadet Sergeant 1st Class Lescano, it wasn’t all fun and games. “They weren’t that all intimidating to me because I kind of have an idea what I was up against.” At Brigades, the Drill Team will excel in beating Francis Lewis High School.

The team changes you as a person and in competitions you may feel nervous but in the end it’s all good because it’s all worth it.

By: Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Isabel Corella

Drill team kicks it up in New Brunswick H.S. school competition in Jan. 12th, 2008. Taking first place overall, but quite frankly everything was not as it seemed.

“I was kind of disappointed of the scoring method” said Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Taide Hernandez, “but I think this was an O.K. competition for new members to get the feeling of being up front.”

Having only color guard 3rd place, inspection 3rd place, regulation 1st place, and squad regulation 2nd place. New Brunswick taking most of the first place trophies.

Cadet Captain Plaza a three year drill team member was very surprised by the results, “I believe that the judges roughly placed our school” angrily added Cadet Captain Plaza, “I thought we were going to take all the trophies like our previous encounter with New Brunswick.”

“I expected the competition to be as usual with fair scoring and all,” added Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Taide Hernandez, “Hopefully next competition wouldn’t be like this one.”

By: Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Isabel Corella

L.I.C. JROTC Drill team won 1st place in Delsea High School’s competition, at Saturday December 8th, 2007. Competing with Delsea High School, Fort Hamilton High School, Xavier High School and etc, after a whole day of a fierce battle our school’s armed and unarmed Drill teams took home 1st place in platoon and squad regulation.

What’s worth the whistle for this competition was that when our outstanding unarmed Drill team was competing in exhibition, all the audience was so impress that they spread a “wow” sound around whole the stadium. Good job to all Drill team members! Our unit is proud of you!

By: C/ Corporal Isabel Corella & C/ 2LT Kai Cen

As the Drill team prepared for their 1St competition of the season, in November 17 which was held in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Their 1st competition was held in Union High School. It went extremely well for Armed & Unarmed. Overall the team took 2 place, but the side who really dominated the floor was the Daughters of Liberty taking 1 place for regulation, 2 for exhibition & 3 for platoon regulation & color guard. “It went really well, I didn’t expect to take just & 2 place this competition” said C/ LTC Hernandez. C/Major Garcia, C/ LTC Hernandez & the Commander C/ Major Guzman did an outstanding job leading the unarmed team to its triumph. Congrats !!!

By: C/ Corporal Isabel Corella