Writer – COL (Ret) Vernon Lightner
Photographer – James Manning, Aaron Keener, Darall Luckett
On May 9-10 2025, three High Schools (West Creek, Kenwood, and Montgomery Central), from the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, Clarksville Tennessee, competed in the 2025 All-Service National Drill and Fitness Competition held in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Each year, the best of the best All-Service JROTC (Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force) Drill and Fitness teams, converge on the sandy beaches along the Florida coast to face off in these highly competitive championships.
Meanwhile, as the Drill teams were in doors competing on the gym floor, the Kenwood Black Knights Fitness team was on the beach competing against some of the best fitness teams. When the sand finally settled, the Knights were crowned the 2025 National Fitness Team Runners-Up, as the second best fitness team in the nation.
Congratulations to all of our cadets, teachers, and teams. Our district leaders are very proud of each one of our students. They truly represent the District’s mission to empower our students to reach their full potential, and they represented 7th Bold Warrior Brigade in an exemplary manner. I know the memories will last a life time. Excellence Always!
This year, at the conclusion of the competition, the Black Knights of Kenwood High School Armed Drill Team and the Coyote Battalion’s West Creek High School Unarmed Drill Team each came out on top, winning the 2025 NATIONAL DRILL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS (Best in the Nation) in their respective Divisions.
The overall success of our teams continued to build as the Indian Battalion, Montgomery Central High School’s Drill Team, placed third overall in the Nation in their Division, in the Unarmed Drill Team category.