COLS Cadets

[C/Msgt.wraith]

Is anybody else here on Grunts familiar with the COLS program? I'd like to know about what's different between any one else's unit's program

[C/CLN]

Hello people, first post

Our COLS is at The Citadel. This year it runs from June 22 to 27. Our requirements to go are an A in ROTC and at least a C average in all other classes, a clean discipline record, and pass the E2C pushups, situps, and run. Basically you get up at 5:30 AM, get dressed and go do PT, come back in and eat breakfast, put on your uniform afterwards, get inspected, drill, you have classes throughout the day, and you have a volleyball tournament throughout the week which goes toward Honor Flight. You come back with a Leadership School Ribbon (with or without a star), an E2C Ribbon (with or without a star), and maybe an Outstanding Flight Ribbon. The whole thing is organized into a Group, containing two Squadrons, with five Flights each. My school always sends 16 Basic Cadets and 3 Cadre. This year, two are regular Cadre, and the one is the Group Commander (who incidentally is also my unit's Group Commander for next year). You are put in a room in one of the Quads with someone from a different school. It is a giant COLS; there are people that come from Louisiana and New York to The Citadel, although we have to drive only about two hours lol.
At the end, you have to take a PT Test and an Academic Test and come back with 2Lt.
EDIT: Then again, I feel kind of dumb, seeing as you are in SC as well =p.

[Stryfe]

I've never heard of this program, what is it exactly?

[C/CLN]

Cadet Officer Leadership School
Fancy name for SLS.

[TruBlu]

Our COLS is at The Citadel.

Cit COLS is pretty good from what I hear. I'll be there on a few of those days, as a civ, and may sit around and watch some drill or something. Hell, maybe I'll talk with an instructor there and see if there is a flight in need for a day and help them out as a 'cadre.' My unit goes to Newberry, only reason why we don't hit The Cit is because we've got tradition up there. I've gone to COLS, twice now, once a basic, once a cadre. I already miss it, and it's too bad I can't go back again. Maybe just seeing you guys at The Cit will make me feel better lol.

[C/CLN]

Cit COLS is pretty good from what I hear. I'll be there on a few of those days, as a civ, and may sit around and watch some drill or something. Hell, maybe I'll talk with an instructor there and see if there is a flight in need for a day and help them out as a 'cadre.' My unit goes to Newberry, only reason why we don't hit The Cit is because we've got tradition up there. I've gone to COLS, twice now, once a basic, once a cadre. I already miss it, and it's too bad I can't go back again. Maybe just seeing you guys at The Cit will make me feel better lol.
I am proud of COLS at The Citadel. Oldest Leadership School in the US!

[AFCadetSteel]

A local county of mine hosts their Cadet Officer Leadership Program (COLP)

It consits of 2 week-long sessions in July and August, each with around 175 Cadet Officer Candadites (CoCs), 40 Training Instructors (TIs), and 30 Training Officers (TOs). There are 2 diff staffs for each session. The TOs are mainly retired military, most of them being JROTC instructors around the state (Although the director of cadets is a CAP 2nd Lt, who we simply call El Tee) We also have a local AFROTC student that helps and gets the title of Asst TO.

The TOs just oversee the TIs, make sure everythings okay, teach some of the classes, etc.

The CoC's (Training Cadets) are broken into flights ranging usually from A-R.

The TIs are broken down into

Executive Staff
CO - Heads Camp
XO - CO's trusty assistant
OpsO - Head of Ops Staff
CoA - Makes sure all admin work is completed. OpsO's deputy

Field TIs
Direct CoCs throughout the camp
Teach lessons on drill, leadership, etc.
Run PT

Operations TIs
Run KP
Appoint Barracks Chiefs
Run Night Watch
Run the Confidence Courses (Gold and Silver)
Make sure all needs of the TIs and basic neccissities of the CoCs are met
Grades workbooks

This program is based for a local county, but they invite units all along the east coast to come. We've had CoC's from Deleware, and last year had an Ops TI from South Carolina.

Some quick facts
-Each flight get's a guidon. This guidon can be taken by any TI or TO so must never be handed off or left sitting around. Streamer awards can be awarded for your guidon, the final one being the outstanding flight award.
-Activities include ; problem-solving, survival skills, orienteering, drill lessons, etc.

So here I will explain the process that CoCs must go through for graduation.

June 13th - COLP Meeting at Host school. Any and all questions are answered. CoCs are given their study and workbook. Workbook consists of 44 pages with questions ranging from drill, leadership, problem solving, writing skills, speaking skills, survival, etc. Book is due on the first day of camp.

June 20th-July10th - CoCs are called by their TI and given their essay assignment. Each CoC must complete one essay, and present it in front of their whole squadron on the third day of camp.

First Day
July 25th 0800 Hours - CoCs arrive at camp. The fun begins.
0900 Hours - Welcome Wagon with a local Drill Sergeant
1000 Hours - Preliminary PT test
1130 Hours - Lunch ; First KP flight is chosen and they do their job
1300 Hours - Road march up top for TI's to have time with their flights
1500 Hours - First Activity
1700 Hours - Retreat
1800 Hours - Road march to Dinner ; Dinner
1930 Hours - First sports competition
2000 Hours - Road march uptop; hygeine; study time
2300 Hours - Lights Out
2330 Hours - First Night Watch Begins
Night watch cadets are switched out every 30 minutes, with the exceptino of the Ops TI's

Day Four (VIP and Inspection Day)
0530 Hours - Last Night Watch of the night
0600 Hours - Reveillie ; Morning Call ;PT with our favorite marine corps Major.
0700 Hours - Morning Hygiene
0730 Hours - Road March to breakfast ; breakfast
0900 Hours - Road March up top
0920 Hours - First Lesson
1100 Hours - Hygiene, prepare for uniform inspection
1200 Hours - Uniform Inspection Conducted by executive staff
All cadets get into their "Class B" uniform and are inspected, flight by flight. This goes towards their score of best flight
1330 Hours - Road March to lunch
1400 Hours - Lunch
1530 Hours - Road March up top and 1st activity
1700 Hours - Retreat
1800 Hours - Road march to dinner
1930 Hours - Sports!
2100 Hours - Road march up top for bed.


So those are 2 days in the life of a CoC. Not as detailed as i'd like but eh.

Now TI's have it more difficult. Here's their road to the end.

June 13th and 14th - TI Academy ; ran by former TIs, TOs, and some unit friends. Positions are chosen based on performence here
Every Other Saturday till COLP - TI Meeting 0800-1500
2 Days before CoC's arrive - TIs arrive at camp. Set up barracks. Begin the process for arrival
Camp starts - Start the fun!


My Experience
I have been to COLP twice, and will be going back again this year. My first year, I was a CoC and graduated with the best Oral Presentation and Best Drill Cadet for my squadron.
Last year I went back as an Operations TI, this time recieiving the highest marks possible on my TI Evaluation.
Now this year I plan on being the OpsO for the first session. If I don't get that, at least CoA


It has to be one of the most rewarding programs I have ever been to, and have gained strong bonds with my fellow CoC's and TI's. Even to this day we still have get to gethers with our TI friends.

If anyone is interested in more specific information, send me a PM and I can forward you some more info.

[Psybadek]

A local county of mine hosts their Cadet Officer Leadership Program (COLP)

It consits of 2 week-long sessions in July and August, each with around 175 Cadet Officer Candadites (CoCs), 40 Training Instructors (TIs), and 30 Training Officers (TOs). There are 2 diff staffs for each session. The TOs are mainly retired military, most of them being JROTC instructors around the state (Although the director of cadets is a CAP 2nd Lt, who we simply call El Tee) We also have a local AFROTC student that helps and gets the title of Asst TO.

The TOs just oversee the TIs, make sure everythings okay, teach some of the classes, etc.

The CoC's (Training Cadets) are broken into flights ranging usually from A-R.

The TIs are broken down into

Executive Staff
CO - Heads Camp
XO - CO's trusty assistant
OpsO - Head of Ops Staff
CoA - Makes sure all admin work is completed. OpsO's deputy

Field TIs
Direct CoCs throughout the camp
Teach lessons on drill, leadership, etc.
Run PT

Operations TIs
Run KP
Appoint Barracks Chiefs
Run Night Watch
Run the Confidence Courses (Gold and Silver)
Make sure all needs of the TIs and basic neccissities of the CoCs are met
Grades workbooks

This program is based for a local county, but they invite units all along the east coast to come. We've had CoC's from Deleware, and last year had an Ops TI from South Carolina.

Some quick facts
-Each flight get's a guidon. This guidon can be taken by any TI or TO so must never be handed off or left sitting around. Streamer awards can be awarded for your guidon, the final one being the outstanding flight award.
-Activities include ; problem-solving, survival skills, orienteering, drill lessons, etc.

So here I will explain the process that CoCs must go through for graduation.

June 13th - COLP Meeting at Host school. Any and all questions are answered. CoCs are given their study and workbook. Workbook consists of 44 pages with questions ranging from drill, leadership, problem solving, writing skills, speaking skills, survival, etc. Book is due on the first day of camp.

June 20th-July10th - CoCs are called by their TI and given their essay assignment. Each CoC must complete one essay, and present it in front of their whole squadron on the third day of camp.

First Day
July 25th 0800 Hours - CoCs arrive at camp. The fun begins.
0900 Hours - Welcome Wagon with a local Drill Sergeant
1000 Hours - Preliminary PT test
1130 Hours - Lunch ; First KP flight is chosen and they do their job
1300 Hours - Road march up top for TI's to have time with their flights
1500 Hours - First Activity
1700 Hours - Retreat
1800 Hours - Road march to Dinner ; Dinner
1930 Hours - First sports competition
2000 Hours - Road march uptop; hygeine; study time
2300 Hours - Lights Out
2330 Hours - First Night Watch Begins
Night watch cadets are switched out every 30 minutes, with the exceptino of the Ops TI's

Day Four (VIP and Inspection Day)
0530 Hours - Last Night Watch of the night
0600 Hours - Reveillie ; Morning Call ;PT with our favorite marine corps Major.
0700 Hours - Morning Hygiene
0730 Hours - Road March to breakfast ; breakfast
0900 Hours - Road March up top
0920 Hours - First Lesson
1100 Hours - Hygiene, prepare for uniform inspection
1200 Hours - Uniform Inspection Conducted by executive staff
All cadets get into their "Class B" uniform and are inspected, flight by flight. This goes towards their score of best flight
1330 Hours - Road March to lunch
1400 Hours - Lunch
1530 Hours - Road March up top and 1st activity
1700 Hours - Retreat
1800 Hours - Road march to dinner
1930 Hours - Sports!
2100 Hours - Road march up top for bed.


So those are 2 days in the life of a CoC. Not as detailed as i'd like but eh.

Now TI's have it more difficult. Here's their road to the end.

June 13th and 14th - TI Academy ; ran by former TIs, TOs, and some unit friends. Positions are chosen based on performence here
Every Other Saturday till COLP - TI Meeting 0800-1500
2 Days before CoC's arrive - TIs arrive at camp. Set up barracks. Begin the process for arrival
Camp starts - Start the fun!


My Experience
I have been to COLP twice, and will be going back again this year. My first year, I was a CoC and graduated with the best Oral Presentation and Best Drill Cadet for my squadron.
Last year I went back as an Operations TI, this time recieiving the highest marks possible on my TI Evaluation.
Now this year I plan on being the OpsO for the first session. If I don't get that, at least CoA


It has to be one of the most rewarding programs I have ever been to, and have gained strong bonds with my fellow CoC's and TI's. Even to this day we still have get to gethers with our TI friends.

If anyone is interested in more specific information, send me a PM and I can forward you some more info.

That sounds interesting, we don't have a COLS program in NJROTC, but we do have a leadership academy. It's for juniors and sophomores and you only go once, and it's not specific to just cadet officers. Enlisted cadets attend as well.

Leadership Academy consisted of sail training, PT, inspections, field leadership, an obstacle course, commanding cadets, inspecting cadets, learning the sword, social etiquette and leadership characteristics for the cadet officer. It was definitely a great experience and I'm glad I got to go.

[AFCadetSteel]

That sounds interesting, we don't have a COLS program in NJROTC, but we do have a leadership academy. It's for juniors and sophomores and you only go once, and it's not specific to just cadet officers. Enlisted cadets attend as well.

Leadership Academy consisted of sail training, PT, inspections, field leadership, an obstacle course, commanding cadets, inspecting cadets, learning the sword, social etiquette and leadership characteristics for the cadet officer. It was definitely a great experience and I'm glad I got to go.

Yeah. For the JROTC units in the host county, they must attend this camp to receive promotion to cadet officer.
Pretty nifty stuff.

[C/CLN]

Yeah, the whole point of going is to get Officer rank.
The only Officer Cadets who go IN to the program again are those who are coming back to be Cadre (never heard of the term in the Navy; it's basically a "helper person" that comes back to motivate Basic Cadets. People are more motivated when they have someone from their own peer group judging them).

[13B_Warrior]

That sounds interesting, we don't have a COLS program in NJROTC, but we do have a leadership academy. It's for juniors and sophomores and you only go once, and it's not specific to just cadet officers. Enlisted cadets attend as well.

Leadership Academy consisted of sail training, PT, inspections, field leadership, an obstacle course, commanding cadets, inspecting cadets, learning the sword, social etiquette and leadership characteristics for the cadet officer. It was definitely a great experience and I'm glad I got to go.

I would have liked to go... but Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky meant more to me.

I've talked to most of the cadets I was with who went (most of whom are now Soldiers and Marines) and they said it was a rought, but fun experience.

I should go back and ask them who had the rougher summer, them or me?

King of Battle
13B

[Psybadek]

Yeah, the whole point of going is to get Officer rank.
The only Officer Cadets who go IN to the program again are those who are coming back to be Cadre (never heard of the term in the Navy; it's basically a "helper person" that comes back to motivate Basic Cadets. People are more motivated when they have someone from their own peer group judging them).

Yeah I know what a cadre is, I don't know about all NJROTC units, I know in my unit no one went back to leadership academy, and only a few went per year and it was generally juniors who went. I know at least in Florida, leadership academy is held in St Petersburg at the Admiral Farragut Academy. It's not easy to get into since the academy is limited on how many cadet's can stay there for the week you are there, and it's not a requirement to attend the academy to become an cadet officer. It's a great experience but definitely the most challenging thing a cadet can do while in NJROTC.

[C/CLN]

Generally, AFJROTC Officer rank is only given out to graduates of COLS or some other similar program. Some units just give it out like candy, but that's the crap units.
In SC, there are like at least 5 COLS lol.

[AFCadetSteel]

Generally, AFJROTC Officer rank is only given out to graduates of COLS or some other similar program. Some units just give it out like candy, but that's the crap units.
In SC, there are like at least 5 COLS lol.

Hey now. My unit hands them out without too many restrictions, which is crappy, but we are FAR from a crap unit.

[C/CLN]

Hey now. My unit hands them out without too many restrictions, which is crappy, but we are FAR from a crap unit.
I do make hasty generalizations about that topic, but generally that is the way it is. Not all the time, but usually.

[AFGirl]

I loved COLS. I went last year

[C/CLN]

What COLS did you attend? The Citadel?

[C/CLN]

I just got back.
It was harder than I thought.
I got best male academic score on the test out of like 180 guys (of about 250 people total), and received a trophy for it.
The barracks were quite nice on the outside but the inside was disgusting.
The food was mediocre, but I expected that.
The program was quite rigorous, and we did an orienteering thing around the whole campus. We just ran around and looked for crap, and our coach was some guy who represents the US in world orienteering comps all the time apparently. Orienteering is funnnnn. I must've ran like three miles doing it.

[TruBlu]

I just got back.
It was harder than I thought.
I got best male academic score on the test out of like 180 guys (of about 250 people total), and received a trophy for it.
The barracks were quite nice on the outside but the inside was disgusting.
The food was mediocre, but I expected that.
The program was quite rigorous, and we did an orienteering thing around the whole campus. We just ran around and looked for crap, and our coach was some guy who represents the US in world orienteering comps all the time apparently. Orienteering is funnnnn. I must've ran like three miles doing it.

I saw you guys running around orienteering on the campus. Did you guys have to track though/around buildings when your LOS was blocked? I also saw a whole lot of females in charge, a whole lot of angry angry females lol...

[C/CLN]

I saw you guys running around orienteering on the campus. Did you guys have to track though/around buildings when your LOS was blocked? I also saw a whole lot of females in charge, a whole lot of angry angry females lol...
Crap if I knew you were there I might've seen you.
Idk what you mean by tracking through buildings when our LOS was blocked(?). We had a map.
The Group CC was a chick, the Vice was a guy. Adjutant was a guy, Group Guidon was a chick. One Squadron CC was a chick, other was a guy. A LOT of the Flight Cadre were chicks, and the Staff Cadre as well.
My Flight Cadre sucked, I liked my Staff Cadre MUCH better. I miss them grr :(. I liked about half to 60% of the Cadets in my flight (B). Our Flight did ok in placements (second, fifth, second, eighth). We did horribly on Friday. The parade was long and the adjutant did his moronic little 140 BPM run-walk thing.

[TruBlu]

Crap if I knew you were there I might've seen you.
Idk what you mean by tracking through buildings when our LOS was blocked(?). We had a map.
The Group CC was a chick, the Vice was a guy. Adjutant was a guy, Group Guidon was a chick. One Squadron CC was a chick, other was a guy. A LOT of the Flight Cadre were chicks, and the Staff Cadre as well.
My Flight Cadre sucked, I liked my Staff Cadre MUCH better. I miss them grr :(. I liked about half to 60% of the Cadets in my flight (B). Our Flight did ok in placements (second, fifth, second, eighth). We did horribly on Friday. The parade was long and the adjutant did his moronic little 140 BPM run-walk thing.

I didn't know when I was going to be there really. You may have seen me without recognizing me, both times I was around and about I had a pool stick on my back and was listening to music; the Citadel has a great little pool room in Mark Clark Hall with three nine-foot tables, in great condition, but the acustics in there suck...

Traking is just another term for moving in direction, ie your map. LOS stands for Line-Of-Sight, and I was wondering what happened if you had a building in your way of your objective, or if that happened, but if you had a map you were probably good to go. How long was the course by the way, I saw a good number of points and wasn't even really looking.

Most of the girls I saw were flight cadre, always yelling and sounding very, well Citadel like I suppose. How many cadets did you guys have in attendance anyways? I saw three groups of one week camps, I don't think there are any more for the year there, but each seemed relatively small, then again so did Newberry's when I went up there and watched graduation this year... I guess the AFJROTC activity is slowly diminishing here, but at least we've got 'em.

As to that silly march that unlucky person has to do, I always get a good laugh. :D

[C/CLN]

I didn't know when I was going to be there really. You may have seen me without recognizing me, both times I was around and about I had a pool stick on my back and was listening to music; the Citadel has a great little pool room in Mark Clark Hall with three nine-foot tables, in great condition, but the acustics in there suck...

Traking is just another term for moving in direction, ie your map. LOS stands for Line-Of-Sight, and I was wondering what happened if you had a building in your way of your objective, or if that happened, but if you had a map you were probably good to go. How long was the course by the way, I saw a good number of points and wasn't even really looking.

Most of the girls I saw were flight cadre, always yelling and sounding very, well Citadel like I suppose. How many cadets did you guys have in attendance anyways? I saw three groups of one week camps, I don't think there are any more for the year there, but each seemed relatively small, then again so did Newberry's when I went up there and watched graduation this year... I guess the AFJROTC activity is slowly diminishing here, but at least we've got 'em.

As to that silly march that unlucky person has to do, I always get a good laugh. :D
Well there was no set course, you got one starting objective, and the rest you could go to in any order (I guess that's what you're asking). There were 27 objectives.

It was like 256 cadets, there were only two sessions. The Citadel COLS is like the biggest in the nation I think, and they claim to be the best. And maybe AFJROTC is diminishing in Charleston but in Sumter we had like 255 cadets this past year. The unit is huge =p.

[TruBlu]

Well there was no set course, you got one starting objective, and the rest you could go to in any order (I guess that's what you're asking). There were 27 objectives.

Oh, so you guys would just navigate your own paths and see who can nab the quickest time for hitting all 27?

It was like 256 cadets, there were only two sessions. The Citadel COLS is like the biggest in the nation I think, and they claim to be the best. And maybe AFJROTC is diminishing in Charleston but in Sumter we had like 255 cadets this past year. The unit is huge =p.

I could have sworn I saw three weeks there, unless one of them was two weeks long. In Charleston, AFJROTC is sustaining in most schools, but not really building up. Most units have been hurt in recruiting, some are going on probation next year. There are a few that are doing well enough though. A newer school that attended COLS with you, name slips me at the moment, has done really well for a first year unit and is getting a good amount of cadets. Other than them and a few bigger schools (ie: Wando HS) the other units are loosing cadets a little quicker than comfort can allow.

[C/CLN]

Oh, so you guys would just navigate your own paths and see who can nab the quickest time for hitting all 27?



I could have sworn I saw three weeks there, unless one of them was two weeks long. In Charleston, AFJROTC is sustaining in most schools, but not really building up. Most units have been hurt in recruiting, some are going on probation next year. There are a few that are doing well enough though. A newer school that attended COLS with you, name slips me at the moment, has done really well for a first year unit and is getting a good amount of cadets. Other than them and a few bigger schools (ie: Wando HS) the other units are loosing cadets a little quicker than comfort can allow.
Yes.

And:
Are you talking about Ashley Ridge? How is Fort Dorchester doing?

[TruBlu]

Are you talking about Ashley Ridge? How is Fort Dorchester doing?

Yes, Ashley Ridge! They are doing quite well from what I've seen. Already they are competing in most of the local drill competitions and have a pretty good program set up. Fort Dorchester is sustaining itself, although the majority of the corps aren't exactly in it for AFJROTC, more for the 'easy credit' and PE qualification. Their size is still pretty good, but from my talks with a few of them, they are slowly falling. I went to their military ball this past year as a representative from my corps and they had a pretty good turn out there, so I suppose they aren't hurting too much.

As for you guys in the mid and upper state area, I can't say enrollment is a whole lot better up there. Sumter HS and Spring Valley have always had good turn outs on population, but even places like Clover HS and Crest Wood HS are starting to get substantially lower numbers. Then again, this is so for the majority of the nation, lower numbers. I just don't think as many people wish to be 'affiliated' with the military and don't really understand what we are all about and do.

What other schools go to Citadel COLS anyways? We've got James Island Charter, Clover, Crest Wood, Northwestern, DWD, I believe Spring Valley, and a few more I can't remember or are in another state altogether (we get some AL and NC units as well) at Newberry.

[C/CLN]

Yes, Ashley Ridge! They are doing quite well from what I've seen. Already they are competing in most of the local drill competitions and have a pretty good program set up. Fort Dorchester is sustaining itself, although the majority of the corps aren't exactly in it for AFJROTC, more for the 'easy credit' and PE qualification. Their size is still pretty good, but from my talks with a few of them, they are slowly falling. I went to their military ball this past year as a representative from my corps and they had a pretty good turn out there, so I suppose they aren't hurting too much.

As for you guys in the mid and upper state area, I can't say enrollment is a whole lot better up there. Sumter HS and Spring Valley have always had good turn outs on population, but even places like Clover HS and Crest Wood HS are starting to get substantially lower numbers. Then again, this is so for the majority of the nation, lower numbers. I just don't think as many people wish to be 'affiliated' with the military and don't really understand what we are all about and do.

What other schools go to Citadel COLS anyways? We've got James Island Charter, Clover, Crest Wood, Northwestern, DWD, I believe Spring Valley, and a few more I can't remember or are in another state altogether (we get some AL and NC units as well) at Newberry.
There are tons of schools at The Citadel COLS. We had Fort Dorchester, Sumter High, Spring Valley (went first session), Wando, TC Roberson, crap I can't remember them all because for some reason most schools didn't have unit patches, but all the units were introduced at the first congregation thing and there was something like 22 I remember. SC, NC, VA, FL, GA, TX, CA, WV, AL and I think that was it for the second session. People from Singapore and the Philippines were coming but they couldn't make it because of Swine Flu.

I was at Crestwood my freshman year. It's kind of bad there because they take half their second years, and all their third and fourth years and combine them into one flight. I have been hearing nothing but bad things from Spring Valley lately. Even their drill team is going waaayyyyyy down compared to what it used to be. You don't hear of too many good units in Columbia anyways, and it's because their district sucks and hates JROTC. Sumter and Crestwood are both excellent units, Lakewood not so much (no one even hears about them and it's like thirteen miles away from here). All the good units are on the east coast and the lower-east midlands and the upper part of the states it seems.

Sumter High has tons of people every year because almost every part of Sumter has something to do with the AF because of Shaw. Charleston has a base too I know but Shaw is like infused into every function of Sumter it seems.

[TruBlu]

There are tons of schools at The Citadel COLS. We had Fort Dorchester, Sumter High, Spring Valley (went first session), Wando, TC Roberson, crap I can't remember them all because for some reason most schools didn't have unit patches, but all the units were introduced at the first congregation thing and there was something like 22 I remember. SC, NC, VA, FL, GA, TX, CA, WV, AL and I think that was it for the second session. People from Singapore and the Philippines were coming but they couldn't make it because of Swine Flu.

I was at Crestwood my freshman year. It's kind of bad there because they take half their second years, and all their third and fourth years and combine them into one flight. I have been hearing nothing but bad things from Spring Valley lately. Even their drill team is going waaayyyyyy down compared to what it used to be. You don't hear of too many good units in Columbia anyways, and it's because their district sucks and hates JROTC. Sumter and Crestwood are both excellent units, Lakewood not so much (no one even hears about them and it's like thirteen miles away from here). All the good units are on the east coast and the lower-east midlands and the upper part of the states it seems.

Sumter High has tons of people every year because almost every part of Sumter has something to do with the AF because of Shaw. Charleston has a base too I know but Shaw is like infused into every function of Sumter it seems.

Wow, that's a lot of friggin' schools. CA? Well their JROTC is pretty messed up out there, we hear a new banning attempt every few months or so... I don't know how much Spring Valley is hurting, I didn't follow their national performace, although they did quite well locally (as always). I haven't heard jack about Lakewood in a while, probably since freshman year...

We do have Charleston AFB, but most business from there is at Fort Dorchestor from what I've heard, plus you guys have the 7th AF, we have an air lift wing, primarily. For the most part, my school, James Island Charter is doing the worst out of most. We've got all AS years combined in classes, although we do have five a day, but the average for each will be about 10 to 12 cadets per flight, including those not typically include in a flight headcount (staff officers and the like). We actually go on probation next year, so I've got a whole lot of work for myself come the time to take the riegns. But as to the relation with AFB's, I guess you could say that Charleston is a little bigger than Sumter and doesn't rely on the AFB as much in terms of workforce.

I've always enjoyed seeing the Crestwood guys, and Clover also, haven't met too many from Sumter. Do you guys come down to any drill competitions in Charleston, like CSU, The Citadel, or state in Eastover?

[C/CLN]

Wow, that's a lot of friggin' schools. CA? Well their JROTC is pretty messed up out there, we hear a new banning attempt every few months or so... I don't know how much Spring Valley is hurting, I didn't follow their national performace, although they did quite well locally (as always). I haven't heard jack about Lakewood in a while, probably since freshman year...

We do have Charleston AFB, but most business from there is at Fort Dorchestor from what I've heard, plus you guys have the 7th AF, we have an air lift wing, primarily. For the most part, my school, James Island Charter is doing the worst out of most. We've got all AS years combined in classes, although we do have five a day, but the average for each will be about 10 to 12 cadets per flight, including those not typically include in a flight headcount (staff officers and the like). We actually go on probation next year, so I've got a whole lot of work for myself come the time to take the riegns. But as to the relation with AFB's, I guess you could say that Charleston is a little bigger than Sumter and doesn't rely on the AFB as much in terms of workforce.

I've always enjoyed seeing the Crestwood guys, and Clover also, haven't met too many from Sumter. Do you guys come down to any drill competitions in Charleston, like CSU, The Citadel, or state in Eastover?
Shaw has the Ninth AF, not the Seventh.

There were about 250 cadets this past year at Sumter, 140 or so each at Crestwood and Lakewood. No one cares about Lakewood anyways, so whatever. SV is doing very badly; their unit has been crap I hear for a while now, and their Drill Team is going down as well... next year I expect Sumter to beat them in a lot of stuff. Sumter's Drill Team is great in unarmed ex (can't say the same for Crestwood, and Lakewood's DT is virtually nonexistant), but SHS has had the past 43 years to practice.

At SHS, each freshman flight averages around 30 Cadets I'd say, probably a little more (there are four flights). Second year flights, about 22 each (two flights), one third year flight with about 22 as well, and the senior flight has about 18-20 with one flight. Actually those numbers are off (there's more), but whatever.

Sumter usually goes to the CSU Drill Comp but didn't this past year because the Washington trip interfered with the Competition schedule; they were held on the same weekend, and the school that plans the CSU trip didn't get the dates out until a week before the Comp, and Sumter couldn't have possibly changed Washington trip plans to fit that in that quickly. And the thing is, the Comp was held on the same date in October forever, and SHS goes on the Washington trip on the same dates every year, so whoever planned that Comp got my Major mad, because he planned the trip around that date. How many schools go to the CSU Comp every year?

[TruBlu]

Shaw has the Ninth AF, not the Seventh.

My apologies, I thought it was the Seventh, thank you much.

How many schools go to the CSU Comp every year?

CSU is pretty small, well a decent size really. Mostly a bunch of local schools, I don't think any out of state ones. Funny thing about CSU this year, the date was changed multiple times, so you guys could have probably made it! We had rain dely twice, and finnaly the just went with it; it rained that day too. :sleepy:

[C/CLN]

I dislike small comps honestly, and SHS went to USC comp this past year instead of CSU (usually SHS doesn't go to the USC comp). Next year SHS is going to both. Sumter is going to more comps next year. USC is a horribly-organized competition that doesn't even have element competitions, which sucks.

[TruBlu]

I dislike small comps honestly, and SHS went to USC comp this past year instead of CSU (usually SHS doesn't go to the USC comp). Next year SHS is going to both. Sumter is going to more comps next year. USC is a horribly-organized competition that doesn't even have element competitions, which sucks.

Coming from a guy that doesn't have a full flight for a team, I know it sucks. The first time I was there, I was the Drill Team Sergeant, second in command as a first year. My CO didn't show, so I took command of a team mostly of my peers. We were slaughtered, organization was terrible, I had to learn multiple routines on the spot. Regardless to say, I never wanted to go back. Well, the next year we went back and it was a little better (I was now Drill Team CO) and I didn't notice a really big disorganization, except during the knockout when some random ROTC cadet (not the one who was calling it) called out a command and took out 90% of the group, the ones left were right in front of the guy so... I said I wouldn't go back. Well, the next year, nah we didn't go back lol.

I hope to see you and Sumter at CSU, although I'm not sure I'll have a drill team, just may be me and a color guard, maybe a small exhibition tandem and duo if I can get one put together. As you see, I'm in kind of a pinch... But business as usual right?

[C/CLN]

If I couldn't get a flight together I think I'd die. I don't think that's ever happened to Sumter.
Seriously if I didn't have a flight idk what I'd do. Cry? Lol.

[TruBlu]

Enrollement for my corps has hit an all time low of 75 next year. We are being placed on a one year probation, and on top of that, our 'favorite' inspector is coming for a visit. Last time he was there, he asked the cadets which instructor he should fire first. Hopefully this time, my class can bring some real leadership to the table and avoid that question. I'll be damned if I let that unit fall when I'm off also, I'll do everything possible so those few that still want it can get the same chance I have. We've already lost one instructor due to personnel levels, and our SASI may retire after next year... That less than a flight team is at the back of my mind right now to be honest with you. I'll be content with a color guard going out there and giving its all, and maybe a few can go and have some fun on an exhibition drill deck, maybe their only chance. We will see.

[HWFG1]

My unit takes cadets that sign up each year to Mercer University for COLS in June. Cadets who pass are given a bump in rank, and somewhat prioritized in the running for officer jobs (i.e. an upcoming Senior who just graduated COLS would get Logistics Officer before one who hadn't gone, but, an upcoming Sophomore who had just graduated would not necessarily get a job an upcoming junior applied for; and, someone who is Senior Airman or lower in rank will get bumped to Staff Sergeant if they don't get an officer job, otherwise, they go up one rank from there). All the cadets that go claim to have fun, and enjoy it (I can't go due to physical issues), but say it's very grueling. It's a very gratifying experience, from what I've told, though, I've observed mixed results in cadets who pass.