Fusileers Complete 2022-23 Season with Top 10 Finishes at National High School Drill Team Competition

Feature photo above, members of the Missouri Military Academy Fusileers Drill Team stand with their 2022-23 trophies on the steps of Stribling Hall.

The Missouri Military Academy (MMA) Fusileer Drill Team closed out their 2022-23 competitive season with a trip to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the National High School Drill Team Competition (NHSDTC) on May 6 and 7, 2023. Teams representing 60 schools nationwide competed in four disciplines of drill: Regulation, Exhibition, Color Guard and Inspection in both the armed and unarmed divisions.

Competing at the Masters Level, the MMA Fusileers finished in the top 10 in the nation in the Overall Unarmed and the top 12 in the Overall Armed categories.The Daytona competition followed the Fusileers' national championship performance at the Rocky Mountain Drill Classic in April.

"The competition was fierce in Daytona Beach, and while we didn't get the final results we wanted, I am proud of all of my cadets,” said Richard Dehlinger '93, MMA deputy commandant for support and quartermaster and drill team coach. “Every single one of them has made me so proud of their efforts."

A complete list of the Fusileers’ team results from the 2023 All-Service Drill National Championship competition is as follows:

• Armed Regulation, 6th place
• Armed Commander, 6th place
• Armed Color Guard, 9th place
• Armed Exhibition, 7th place
• Unarmed Regulation, 5th place
• Unarmed Commander, 5th place
• Unarmed Color Guard, 2nd place

"For those who still have some time left at the Academy before they graduate, I hope they keep up the good work and work even harder next year to make the team bigger and better," said Dehlinger. "The foundations for success are fully instilled in them, and they are set up for even more success."

"Over the past few years, our cadets and Coach Dehlinger have revived the Fusileers' tradition of excellence and competitiveness at the national level," said MMA President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret). "Each year, they are passing down high expectations for achievement and accomplishing their goals. We are extremely proud of their success and know the lessons of determination and discipline they are learning will serve them well as they complete their careers at MMA and move on to their post-high school education and careers."

Below, see photos from the Fusileers end-of-year cookout celebration at Lake Mismilaca, 16 May 2023. See more Fusileers celebration photos on Flickr.