BAKER — Twenty-seven students in Baker School's Junior ROTC program won several medals and trophies during a recent regional competition.
Working in teams, Baker's squad, commanded by Courtney Kleback, won first place in the exhibition armed squad category March 15.
The squad also placed in these categories:
•2nd Place: Regulation Armed Platoon, commanded by Joslyn Briggs
•3rd Place: Male Color Guard, commanded by Cole Briggs
•4th Place: Female Color Guard, commanded by Ruth Gleissner
•4th Place: Female Regulation Armed Squad, commanded by Amanda Dotson
•4th Place: Female Regulation Unarmed Squad, commanded by Justice Clifton
In the exhibition category, Baker students earned top placing in single-drill competitions. Using intricate marching techniques in coordination with various hand and arm movements, students often used a mock rifle when performing their own routine.
Amanda Dotson earned first place in the individual exhibition, while Daemen Talbert took second place in the same category. Joslyn Briggs and Ruth Gleissner received second place in the dual exhibition category.
Baker JROTC members, who account for 120 of the 400 high school students, competed against 12 JROTC programs in the region, senior army instructor Michael Ramirez said.
Ramirez and fellow JROTC instructor Joe Nunley said it is common for Baker's program to earn top placing in regional and state competitions.
"The Baker ROTC program has a great history of placing well in the state competition," Nunley said. "For the past two years, our drill team has finished in the top 10 percent of all JROTC programs in the state of Florida."
Top placing students cannot compete in the state level competition due to its cancellation with the sequestration.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker School JROTC earns top placing at regional event