Midshipmen and cadets from the University Naval, Army and Air Force ROTC programs competed in Military Weekend, a three-day drill and fitness challenge, this weekend. The event, in which Navy took top honors, emphasized physical fitness and preparedness.
The competition began Thursday with a shooting contest at the Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Center. Army won the rifle contest, while Navy took second place and Air Force placed third.
The events continued Friday with an inspection, which tested cadets and midshipmen on the appearance of their uniforms and rifles, as well as their knowledge of military chain of command, current events and general orders.
Second-year College student Maureen Bell described general orders as "information that any military person needs to know for standing watch."
Navy won the inspection portion of the competition, followed by Air Force and Army respectively.
Friday's competition concluded with two drill exercises at the National Guard Reserve center.
The first of these, termed the standard platoon drill, tested participants on their ability to perform a formal, regimented routine, Bell said.
"It's a platoon of 12-15 people commanded by one person who is given a list of movements to execute in a particular order," she said. "Precision of movement is what they're looking for."
The second drill exercise, called the trick drill, allowed for more creativity, Bell said.
"It's a routine you do on the floor without commands," Bell said. "You can spin rifles and have different formations -- it's almost like a floor show."
Navy won both drill events and Air Force took second in both competitions. Army placed third in the standard platoon drill but did not participate in the trick drill.
The weekend's events culminated in a "triathlon," combining push-ups, sit-ups and a three-mile run.
Navy won the event followed by Air Force and Army.
While competition was fierce, Military Weekend promotes unit cohesion, Bell said.
"We compete but still get along," she said.
Unity is an important concept for members of the various branches because they must all work together in the larger military environment, according to second-year Engineering student Doug Weber.
"We are different branches of the same unit," Weber said.
While the competition only comes around once a year, University ROTC programs put a constant emphasis on physical preparedness, Weber said.
"We all have physical fitness tests that we have to pass every semester," he said.
Attentiveness to a high standard of health is particularly important because of the war in Iraq, Naval Science Prof. Capt. Dick Bedford said.
"As you might expect from the news, the business that we're in is for young people that are fit," he said.
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