Nationally Recognized CHS Drill Team Members Epitomize Dedication and Discipline

For the past 38 years, the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Drill Team has often marched to a more successful beat than most other drill squads in the state, region and even the nation.

In their first Southern New England Drill League meet in Stamford, CT, while competing against high school teams from NY, RI, CT and MA, the 2011 Coventry AFJROTC squad of young men and women was the overall winner, capturing two firsts, two seconds and a third place in various categories.

It is all part of a winning Falcons’ JROTC formula that begun several years ago under the leadership and guidance of retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Richard Lebel, who masterminded a program that at one point earned seven National Championships in 10 years and has often won the Southern New England Drill Team title.

As a result of the squad earning several hundred trophies and other awards for league and national excellence, many of their accomplishments are proudly displayed in cases extending several feet long near the high school office.

Being on the drill team is an honor and privilege for these members, who had to try out and compete for a spot. “It is all about discipline, teamwork and leadership skills,” said current Drill Coach Marc Boulay, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant, who has been with the program since 1996. He is also a teacher in the JROTC program offered as an elective at the school.

“Cadets have to run everything, but they get supervision from instructors,”  said Boulay. Although he oversees the program, he values the input of volunteer instructors, Bill Dudley, a drill instructor with experience in the Marines Corps Reserve, and Gina Studley, a Drill Mom, whose son, Will, a senior, is a commander in the armed division.

It takes these cadets hundreds of hours of practice and tens of thousands of steps to synchronize their routines. Many master handling a rifle in formation. A sabre is sometimes used by a commander. Others become part of the color guard to display and march with flags. But all must learn to follow commands from former military personnel and from their peers to continue to perform at such a high level.

“The squad competes in armed and unarmed divisions in regulation, inspection, color guard and team exhibition categories,” Boulay explained. “We carry a 1903 replica rifle that weighs 8.75 pounds and we do exercises with them to warm up.”

There are many different marching formations and techniques to be learned and handling the heavy rifle while marching in line is just one of the tasks. “They have to be in sequence and have to memorize 52 commands,” said Boulay. “They can only take 116 to 120 steps a minute. And they must memorize the commands because there is no paper.”

Practicing three times a week, the students pay their own way to all drill meets, including the Nationals in which they finished 6th place in Washington, D.C. last year. This year, they may try to participate in the 2011 National High School Drill Team Meet in Daytona Beach, FL, one which allows all JROTC branches, including Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps.

Boulay is also a teacher in the elective three-year ROTC program at the high school. Another instructor is Colonel Steven Buteau, former Air Force pilot. “We offer instruction in history of flight, aerospace science and leadership program three years of cultural studies," said Boulay. "We also offer ground school instruction so they are prepared to take their air flight instruction and aviation test to be a pilot.”

“Many go on to college and a few go on to the military,” he said of the JROTC members. “We do community service projects such as historical cemetery cleanups, nursing homes, clean up elderly people’s yards and work with veteran’s organizations such as the POW-MIA project.”

Another Studley, Brannan, son of Gina and brother of Will, was also on the Drill Team. He went to Texas A & M where he graduated and is now an Air Force instructor pilot. Kate Masso, became a weapons system officer after studies at Norwich Academy (VT).

Senior Courtney Wagner, the Falcons’ Drill Team Vice-Commander, said she sees the perception of the student body change early in the year. “I think after we perform for the students at the football Pep Rally most students really respect us,”  says Wagner, whose father served in the Navy, “They learn we don’t just go out there and march around and not everyone can do this.”

Boulay explained that academic achievement is also an important part of being on the team. "The team must maintain a grade B level,” he said. “No failing classes are allowed. They have to work hard to get here."

“You have to earn it,” says Will Studley of his status as a commander. He is in his fourth year of the program, but is not sure if he will follow in the military footsteps of his brother. “I am exploring many options for school,” he said.

According to Boulay, the bottom line for all JROTC members- drill members or not- is that this optional program for all 130 students who participate "is all about citizenship." And the JROTC program at Coventry High School is executing that main mission well.

Members of the squad are: Alex Borges, Kevin Chevalier, Matt Cooke, Chris DeFilippis, Aram Hinz, Mariana Lopez, Shawn Loven*, Gabrille Macari, Mason Raposa, Hannah Reid, Kelsey Soares, Katelyn Stalaboin, Will Studley, Evan Tucker and Courtney Wagner.**  

* Falcon Drill Team Commander; **  Falcon Drill Team Vice-Commander

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