Bellevue West High School - AFJROTC

AFJROTC

Bellevue West AFJROTC is considered one of the nations top ROTC units and has been awarded outstanding wing for the last fourteen years in a row. This award was first earned during the 1984-85 school year.

Drill Teams

c/Maj William Johns (Men's Varsity Drill Team Commander - 1982-1983) brought the Men's Drill Team to regional prominence by commanding the team to a first-place finish at the UNO drill meet. c/Maj Johns finished 2nd in the Outstanding Commander voting.

In the 1984-1985 school year, a "silent" drill routine was initiated during the 1984-1985 school year. It differs from the "call and response" drill technique in that no commands are used during the entire performance. The team relies on an internal count, or beat, to guide the drill. Bellevue West's Men's Varsity Drill Team (with Weapons) took first place at the UNO drill meet. c/Maj Ron Palmerton (Men's Varsity Drill Team Commander - 1983-1985) was awarded the program's first Outstanding Commander's Medal at this drill meet. The program also went on to win third place at the UNL drill meet and second place at the ISU drill meet that same year.

The "silent" form of drilling was reinitiated in the Men's Varsity team during the 1990-91 school year by the team commander with the aid of a drill coach and input from the team. Today the men and women's drill teams are considered some of the best in the country. In 2007 and 2008 both the men's and women's teams went to Florida for the National Competition and brought home first, second, and third place trophies for their exhibition routines.

In the 2007 season, the Men's and Ladies' Varsity teams went to the National High School Drill Team Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida for the first time. The ladies placed first in Alternative Arms Platoon Exhibition and second in Alternative Arms Flight Exhibition; the men placed second in Unarmed Platoon Exhibition. In 2008, the ladies placed third in Alternative Arms Platoon Exhibition and second in Alternative Arms Flight Exhibition; the men placed second in Unarmed Platoon Exhibition, along with two of their members, cadets Kyle French and Michael Smith placing 1st in Unarmed Dual Exhibition. In 2009 the ladies placed fourth in Alternative Arms Inspection and the men placed fourth in Unarmed Platoon Exhibition.