KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Drill teams from the 81st Training Group competed in the quarterly drill competition at the Levitow drill pad here, June 16.
The drill down featured three categories of competition; open ranks, regulation and freestyle, and promotes esprit de corps among the students.
The 334th Training Squadron ‘Gators’ earned first place overall, the 338th TRS ‘Dark Knights’ took second place and the 336th TRS ‘Red Wolves’ took third.
“My favorite is regulation,” said Tech. Sgt. Pamela Seegel, 81st TRG military training office flight chief. “The Airmen show their talent in their moves and their military bearing. They look pretty sharp.”
The event gives students a chance to break out of their comfort zone and the opportunity to try something new.
“I have been on a drill team before back in Junior ROTC but it was never at this scale,” said Airman Basic Raymond Pfeiffer, 334th TRS student. “I’ve never done rifle movements before and I thought it would be neat to try it out.”
The drill competition is a way to showcase what the students have learned during their time at school to their peers and base leadership.
Col. Debra Lovette, 81st Training Wing commander, said the competition was an example of persistence even through adversity as well as a way to show the dedication and the time students have invested.
“This shows that not only do we train and professionally develop, but everything they do is based around airmanship,” said Col. Scott Solomon, 81st TRG commander.