Marching on

With shoes shined, uniforms pressed and ribbons mounted the cadets of the Air Force ROTC prepared for their biannual uniform inspection and drill competition.

The cadets were formed up in groups that are termed flights. A flight is similar to a platoon in the other branches of service. Flights consist of around 30 cadets split into four equal sized elements. There were five flights in the competition. During this competition each flight was evaluated and graded on their performance and appearance.

The competition began with the dress uniform inspection. The freshman and sophomore cadets were inspected by the senior cadets. Their uniforms were inspected for fit, insignia and ribbon placement.

“The inspection is about discipline and attention to detail. It really drives those things home,” said Isaac Fifield, a senior cadet in charge of inspecting and grading the flights.

The first year cadets have recently been instructed on the placement of ribbons on their uniforms and some have not had their uniforms properly tailored.

“The first semester there is usually a plethora of mistakes,” Fifield said.

For some of the younger cadets, this was the first time they had been in a dress uniform in front of other people.

 “It builds a sense of pride, especially with this uniform,” said Col. Karilynne Wallace, the head of the Aerospace Studies department.

After the completion of the uniform inspection the cadets prepared to be evaluated on their marching and close order drill.

The flights lined up in formation at the end of the gym and one at a time they were given the chance to show what they had learned from their flight commander.

The purpose behind marching cadets in this manner is to move cadets from one place to another in an orderly manner, while maintaining the best appearance possible.

 “It teaches them to work as a team to accomplish a task,” Wallace said.

 The flight commander would call out orders and the flight was critiqued on their precision and response to orders. The commander was then graded on the performance of his flight as a whole.

“If the flight messes up, it means the flight commander messed up,” Wallace said.

Each flight was given an opportunity to march in front of the other cadets and then the scores were tallied to find out the top flight commander for the junior class. The scores weren’t immediately read, but the cadets were briefed on what they did properly or which areas they needed to improve.

“Next year, they will be the ones leading,” Fifield said.
(K.Lambert)