UPDATE 2-19-3

According to Sergeant Major Smith, Federal evaluators were impressed on how well-organized the inspection went and how Legacy cadets looked and performed. JROTC members received a score of 590/600 placing them in the top 1% of 318 schools in the entire fifth JROTC Brigade covering eight states.

“Though we are happy with our results, we will strive to improve in the few areas noted we need work,” Major Smith said.

2-14-13

Bright and early at 7 a.m. Feb. 19, the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps will face the most nerve-racking test in JROTC history. After raising the flag, and the drill sergeants complete all uniform checks, JROTC will go through a day-long Command Federal Inspection by the U.S. Army Cadet Command.

The series of tests will consist of Unit and Drill Ceremony, Color Guard Performance, in-ranks uniform inspection, and JROTC knowledge-based questioning. With the exception of staff officers and 15 lower-ranked cadets, students will be released to attend later classes in the day after the completion of the Drill and Ceremony portion.

“It would be like people from the school board coming in and checking everything out,” senior Cadet Major Caleb Bielby said.

This inspection- given by the U.S. Army Cadet Command to every JROTC unit across the country- was officially scheduled for last year, but was moved to this year in order to include all Mansfield schools.

“There are only a couple of things that could go in a bad way and that’s if we don’t get a lot of questions right, but our cadets are really sharp,” Bielby said. “They’re on it with the questions.”

The JROTC officers have worked on their oral presentation since Oct., and have made over 50 changes to the presentation since then. Being the first-ever inspection given at Legacy, JROTC is under an incredible amount of pressure, and is expected to do top-notch in the inspection.

“We’ve really just been going through, changing numbers, changing people,” senior Cadet Major Caleb Bielby said.

The cadets will receive one of three ranks in the inspection: Merit Unit, Honor Unit, and Honor Unit with distinction. After putting in several hours of preparation, the cadets expect they will receive the highest rank of Honor Unit with Distinction.

“We’re going to get Honor Unit with Distinction,” junior Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Thaddeus Brown said.