How Did the MMA Fusileers Drill Team Earn 1st Place in Inspection Competition?

A message from Fusileers Coach Rick Dehlinger:

"I have been coaching the Fusileers for five years now. The Smith-Cotton meet on 18 February 2023 might have been one of the proudest moments I have had with the team in my time as coach.

At Smith-Cotton, the team came together to pull off something they have never done since I have been coaching them … 1st place in inspection. 

Cadet Gage Blanton decided that when the question about the cadet creed is asked — a question that is always asked during inspection — that the cadets respond with “Sir, at MMA, we do not study the cadet creed. We are taught Old MMA.”

His creative juices did not stop there. When asked about the creed, that cadet being asked was to start to singing the Academy's alma mater, Old MMA, and everyone else was to immediately stop what they were doing and join in.

Watch this video (if you do not have time to watch the entire video, fast forward to time marker 03:10:00). Hopefully you see what I see — a true defining moment for this team. 

The day ended in success and hopefully will serve as a catalyst in the hunt for an overall national title."

Results from the 18 February 2023 Smith-Cotton Drill Team meet

The Fusileers competed at Smith Cotton against 15 schools and finished with the following results:

• Armed Division Overall: 1st
• Armed Inspection: 1st
• Armed Regulation: 2nd
• Armed Color Guard: 2nd
• Armed Exhibition: 2nd 
• Armed Commanders Trophy: 2nd
• Unarmed Regulation: 3rd
• Unarmed Color Guard: 2nd

Overall, they finished 3rd place in the competition. 

The following cadets placed in the final individual drilldown competition:

• Cadet Walter Farley, 2nd
• Cadet Duane Thompson, 3rd
• Cadet Gage Blanton, 4th