What’s New with the Blue Devil Battalion?
By JROTC Cadet Janessa Thomas; JROTC PAO, Cadet Mauro Contreras
An Improved Program
Recovering from the previous years of Covid-19, the Blue Devil Battalion has revitalized and excelled in more areas than ever before. As the year carries on, cadets that enter show increased promise and contribute to the greatness and achievements that the Blue Devil Battalion has been receiving in the past year. With our Raiders team making their way to state finals for the first time in history and our drill team taking home more awards due to their arduous work. The program has been positively shaped by these cadets and others as they show all the leadership skills they have developed. Along with continuous support from the Winter Haven High School Staff and our very own JROTC parents the program continues to grow and prosper with new found hope and desire for success instilled within all our extraordinary cadets.
Law and Order Dinner & Vaccination Clinic
Every year the program strives to participate in the law-and-order dinner held by the American Legion Post 8. The American Legion holds an awards ceremony for armed forces and veterans in the area. Cadets provide aid and serve food whilst aiding in the breaking down and setting up process through the night.
Held at Winter Haven High School, the battalion helped aid in a vaccination clinic where citizens could come in and receive their Covid-19 vaccines. This provided directional assistance and information for those visiting our cadets provided premier service.
Lake Buena Vista Drill Meet
The Blue Devil Battalion attended Lake Buena Vista High School for the first time with high hopes of exceptional performance. They took home 1st place in Male Mixed Armed Platoon, 1st in Male/Mixed Color guard, 1st in Male/Mixed Armed Squad, 1st in Female Unarmed Squad, 1st in Male/Mixed Dual Exhibition Drill, 2nd in LET 1 Male/Mixed Squad, 2nd in Male/Mixed Unarmed Platoon, and 2nd in Male/Mixed Unarmed Squad. Earning first place overall, the Blue Devil drill team has put in exceptional amounts of hard work to earn the awards they take home every drill meet.
Zephyrhills Drill Meet
Taking place at Zephyrhills High School, our Blue Devil Drill Team competed in multiple events including LET 1 color guard, Male/Mixed Armed Squad, Female Unarmed Squad, Male/Mixed Unarmed Squad, etc. They took home 2nd place in LET 1 Color guard, and
3rd place in Male/Mixed Armed Platoon. The battalion is proud of how far our Drill Team for the 2021-2022 school year has come and is continuing to go as the District and State Drill Meets approach.
