MSU Air Force ROTC Color Guard finishes second at national collegiate drill competition

Mississippi State students and staff pose after the university’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 425 finished second nationally in the Mardi Gras Drill Meet this month at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Pictured are front row, from left: sophomore chemical engineering major Jayden-Ky Vo of Vancleave, sophomore history major Jehiel James of Millbrook, Alabama, and sophomore aerospace engineering major Allison Dillon of Harrison, Arkansas; back row, from left: MSU AFROTC Inventory Control Assistant Gina Studley, senior mechanical engineering major Sean Simoncic of Lakeland, Tennessee, freshman data science major Markell Cofer-Williams of Jackson, sophomore aerospace engineering major Matthew Reed of Brandon and Lt. Col. Ross Millard, Detachment 425 commander. (Photo submitted)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University Air Force ROTC Detachment 425 finished second in the color guard portion of the 52nd annual Mardi Gras Drill Meet, hosted this month in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Tulane University.

One of the largest and longest-running collegiate drill competitions in the nation, the Mardi Gras Drill Meet, often referred to as the National Collegiate Drill Championship, attracts ROTC units and service academies from across the country. Cadets compete in various military drill and ceremony competitions, with active-duty military members judging adherence to military standards, respective service branch regulations, overall performance and military bearing.

MSU’s five-person color guard that finished runner-up out of 25 teams consists of Cadets Markell Cofer-Williams, freshman data science major from Jackson; Matthew Reed, sophomore aerospace engineering major from Brandon; Jayden-Ky Vo, sophomore chemical engineering major from Vancleave; Allison Dillon, sophomore aerospace engineering major from Harrison, Arkansas; and Jehiel James, sophomore history major from Millbrook, Alabama. Senior Sean Simoncic, a mechanical engineering major from Lakeland, Tennessee, served as mentor for the team which started training in October and held regular practice sessions leading up to the competition.

Cofer-Williams earned a perfect score for his command voice, bearing and overall command presence.

“MSU Air Force ROTC has a fantastic team of highly motivated, professional cadets,” Lt. Col. Ross Millard, commander of MSU’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 425, said. “I am extremely proud of them and their amazing accomplishment.”

As part of the experience, the cadets toured the National World War II Museum and experienced the city during Mardi Gras festivities.

Learn more about the MSU Air Force ROTC at www.afrotc.msstate.edu. MSU Student Affairs is online at saffairs.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.

MSU Air Force ROTC Color Guard finishes second at national collegiate drill competition

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